Most Crucial Cognitive Skills to Preserve and Enhance in An AI-Augmented World
First, we need to consider what cognitive skills human possess. These might include:
- critical thinking
- creative problem-solving
- emotional intelligence
- abstract reasoning
- metacognition
- long-term planning
- ethical decision-making
- adaptability and learning
Next, we should consider which of these skills AI is likely to complement or potentially replace. As we know, AI excels at tasks involving pattern recognition, data processing, and certain types of problem solving. However, AI currently struggles with tasks requiring emotional intelligence[1], contextual understanding[2], and creative leaps[3].
Given this, we might argue that the most crucial skills to preserve and enhance are those that AI cannot easily replicate, such as:
- Creativity and innovation[4][5]
- Emotional intelligence and empathy[6][7]
- Ethical reasoning and value judgements[8]
- Adaptability and learning how to learn[9]
- Critical thinking, especially in evaluating AI outputs[10]
We should also consider skills that will be important for effectively working with AI:
- Ability to frame problems in ways that leverage AI strengths[11]
- Collaboration, communication, and human-machine interaction[5:1][12]
- AI literacy: understanding AI capabilities and limitations[13]
- Technical skills (Python, machine learning, robotics, AI development)[14]
Finally, we need to think about how these skills can be actively preserved and enhanced:
- Educational curricula might need to shift to emphasize these skills[15][16]
- AI tools could be designed to promote active engagement in these areas[17]
- Workplace practices might need to evolve to value and cultivate these human skills[18][19]
Sharma, A., Lin, I., Miner, A., Atkins, D., & Althoff, T. (2022). Human–AI collaboration enables more empathic conversations in text-based peer-to-peer mental health support. Nature Machine Intelligence, 5, 46-57. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-022-00593-2. ↩︎
Cambria, E., Mao, R., Chen, M., Wang, Z., Ho, S., & Murugesan, S. (2023). Seven Pillars for the Future of Artificial Intelligence. IEEE Intelligent Systems, 38, 62-69. https://doi.org/10.1109/MIS.2023.3329745. ↩︎
Chen, Z., & Ye, R. (2021). Principles of Creative Problem Solving in AI Systems. Science & Education, 31, 555 - 557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11191-021-00270-7. ↩︎
Debatable, see Edmond de Belamy. ↩︎
Kumar, S. (2023). Developing Human Skills in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities for Education and Training. Scholedge International Journal of Multidisciplinary & Allied Studies ISSN 2394-336X. https://doi.org/10.19085/sijmas100201. ↩︎ ↩︎
PwC study on people still craving the human element. ↩︎
Huang, M., & Rust, R. (2018). Artificial Intelligence in Service. Journal of Service Research, 21, 155 - 172. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670517752459. ↩︎
WEF reported that more than a half of students will work with yet non-existent jobs. ↩︎
Barmer, H., Dzombak, R., Gaston, M., Palat, V., Redner, F., Smith, C., & Smith, T. (2021). Human-Centered AI. IEEE Pervasive Comput., 22, 7-8. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/16560183.V1. ↩︎
Mena-Guacas, A., Rodríguez, J., Trujillo, D., Gómez-Galán, J., & López-Meneses, E. (2023). Collaborative learning and skill development for educational growth of artificial intelligence: A systematic review. Contemporary Educational Technology. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13123. ↩︎
Chetty, K. (2023). AI Literacy for an Ageing Workforce: Leveraging the Experience of Older Workers. OBM Geriatrics. https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.2303243. ↩︎
Samek, L., Squicciarini, M., & Cammeraat, E. (2021). The human capital behind AI. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Policy Papers. https://doi.org/10.1787/2e278150-en. ↩︎
In 2019, Finland launched a free online course, "Elements of AI," aiming to educate 1% of its population about AI basics. The course emphasizes critical thinking about AI's capabilities and limitations. ↩︎
Harvard's Embedded EthiCS: integrate ethics modules into computer science courses, ensuring that students consider the ethical implications of their work from the start. ↩︎
Duolingo uses AI to personalize learning paths, but it also incorporates features that prompt users to generate their own sentences and engage in conversations, promoting active language production rather than passive recognition. ↩︎
IBM launched a program focusing on skills rather than degrees, emphasizing capabilities like critical thinking and adaptability. They've partnered with community colleges to develop curricula that blend technical skills with these crucial cognitive abilities. ↩︎
Originally developed for Google employees, Search Inside Yourself is a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence program that has been adapted for the AI age, helping tech workers balance AI use with human-centric skills. ↩︎