Genuinely Human
How to nurture the qualities that AI can never develop.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
When I shared my recent post about the skills kids (and adults) need in an AI-driven world on LinkedIn, I honestly didn't anticipate the range and incredible depth of your responses. Your comments reminded me that we're collectively navigating a future that none of us fully understands yet. Trying to make sense of it has helped us reconnect with the timeless, nuanced qualities that make us human: curiosity, creativity, and compassion.
Chris Basey, the CEO of Comedia, beautifully captured the power of storytelling, noting that while it is an important skill, it’s never really taught well. It immediately reminded me of my experience at MIT's Media Lab, where storytelling wasn't just seen as a technique, it was the means through which we inspired, connected, and sparked imagination. That’s because great stories don't merely convey facts; they paint vivid pictures, provoke emotion, and bestow meaning to data in deeply resonant ways.
Niobe Way, the NYU developmental psychology professor and founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity, has consistently taught me the profound value of deep listening. She reminds us all how rare it is to truly listen — not simply to respond, but to understand. Genuine listening, which is rooted in empathy and openness, is uniquely human. Essential for developing both authentic relationships and meaningful solutions, it’s something technology simply cannot replicate.
Readers’ emphasis on critical thinking also stood out. My initial list of five skills included the importance of asking questions, but as JobScore co-founder and CEO Dan Arkind highlighted, critical thinking goes further: It's about questioning answers, evaluating evidence, and discerning what's genuinely valuable amidst an overwhelming amount of information. This reflective skill helps us stay clear-sighted in an increasingly complex digital world.
The "agency mindset" introduced by Suzanna Shamakhyan, the executive director of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), resonated deeply with me. It reinforced my belief that we shouldn't let technology happen to us; instead, we must actively shape and guide it. Giving a sense of both responsibility and purpose, teaching the agency mindset means encouraging kids (and adults) to ask not just “What can I do?” but “What should I do?” and “What impact do I want to have?”
Product innovator Hugh Molotsi expanded beautifully on this point, emphasizing human understanding and the concept of contextual inquiry. True creativity emerges from empathetic engagement with real people's lives, needs, and behaviors.
Lincoln Bauer of Spendwell and Mozilla Foundation’s Nabiha Syed reinforced these insights by highlighting the human capacities that technology lacks. Lincoln pointed out AI's absence of meaningful imagination, while Nabiha emphasized how curiosity, creativity, and caring drive truly impactful innovations. These reflections underscore the critical role that human perspectives play in shaping technology that genuinely improves lives.
Drawing from all your insights, I've revisited and enriched my original list of five essential human skills for our AI-powered future:
Loving the journey, not just the destination Life is about more than achieving goals; it's about embracing each step as a chance for discovery, growth, and joy. Inevitably, we encounter obstacles, and that's where resilience becomes essential, turning setbacks into valuable lessons that empower us to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing (and dopamine-driven) world.
Asking powerful questions and choosing where to pay attention Considered questioning, combined with intentional attention, ensures we guide technology thoughtfully rather than letting it dictate our paths. To paraphrase Robert Langer, MIT professor and co-founder of Moderna, life judges us on how good our questions are, not how well we answer them.
Creating, storytelling, and meaning-making Powerful stories do more than inform: They inspire, ignite imagination, and foster deeper connections. Effective storytelling transforms data into vivid pictures that resonate emotionally, helping people see and feel possibilities rather than merely understand facts.
Seeing the whole system and anticipating consequences Systems thinking is recognizing that everything is interconnected. It allows us to comprehend complexity, foresee ripple effects, and craft sustainable solutions. This holistic view helps us tackle challenges that neither isolated approaches nor AI alone can fully address.
Walking in others' shoes Empathy goes beyond kindness; it intentionally recognizes the human story behind every data point. It compels us to design technology and solutions that respect individual experiences and address people’s needs with dignity and care.
Our modern trivium — curiosity, creativity, and compassion — uniquely positions us to face the future. These fundamental qualities remind us that no matter how advanced technology becomes, our greatest strengths will always remain distinctly human.
A huge thanks (in alphabetical order) to Chris Basey, Cheryl Liew, Dan Arkind, Deborah Carter, Hugh Molotsi, Lincoln Bauer, Nabiha Syed, Niobe Way, Suzanna Shamakhyan, and many others who contributed so thoughtfully to this conversation.
Let's keep nurturing these essential human skills together. Because the future isn't just something we will inherit; it's something we'll actively create. I'd love to hear: How are you bringing these ideas to life, both personally and for the next generation? Let's shape this future together.