“Machines excel in processing data and making decisions based on predictive logic — so much so that they will likely eventually become more effective than their human counterparts at many of these analytical tasks. However, they fall short of grasping the intricacies of human emotions and social dynamics.  

“A.I. will become a complement to our human experience — not a replacement for it. So that means that human skills will become increasingly crucial in both the design and interaction with A.I. systems.” -Alex Budek

This quote, from an article published in May 2023 in Inc. magazine, got me to thinking:

1. As AI evolves, what are the core coaching skills that we need to possess—especially the developers and engineers who design A.I. systems, as well as other organizational leaders and investors who influence these technologies?

• What coaching skills do we all need to cultivate to help us manage the on-going disruptions in today’s white-collar jobs and the related change management that goes along with these disruptions?

Read on to learn more and let me know your thoughts on this critical topic that (I believe) literally affects the fate of humankind.

First, a definition: By “AI”, I mean artificial intelligence or the computer systems that have been designed and/or coded to be able to do the things that previously were only able to be done by humans (and select other smart big brain mammals). This includes “visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages”, per Oxford dictionary. And since almost all recently designed and new software, apps, systems have these capabilities built in, let’s agree for the sake of argument that AI is built into most (if not all) computer technologies.

Coaching Skills at the Intersection of AI + EQ

Can AI listen at Level 3? No. Can it be trained to do so? Maybe.

Can AI utilize its enteric nervous system to sense subconscious intent in another human? No. Could it eventually measure fluctuations in human bio data and then extrapolate another’s subconscious intent? Maybe, but here’s a question to ponder: would we trust AI more than ourselves in this type of situation? Hmmmm.

Does AI have intuition? No.

Can computer technologies with voice capability adjust its tone of voice dynamically to meet the emotional need of another? No. Can it be trained to do so? Maybe.

Does AI understand what it’s like to sweat nervously in an interview or wake up with anxiety because the rent is late again? No. Could it be trained to have a pretty good guess at what it’s like? Yes, but it would still not be a lived emotional human experience of stress.

As I explored the questions above, I affirmed the obvious, which is: I am not an expert on computer technologies, and so I won’t pretend to know all the current capabilities of AI, nor be able to talk about what skills are needed to design such systems.

However, I did wonder:

How many of the designers, developers, leaders, and investors in the field of developing AI can answer Yes to being able to listen at Level 3 or know they even have an enteric nervous system let alone understand the complexities of it?

I appreciate that I don’t need to think about how to design computer systems nor be concerned with the ethical decision making factors that influence how computer systems are designed. But, I can take a coach approach to inviting you to consider what skills may be needed to ensure we retain and enhance our humanity as computer technologies evolve. And as coaching supports the cultivation of critical interpersonal skills like self-awareness, interpersonal effectiveness, listening, observing, etc, I assert that the skills we need at the intersection of AI and humans are fundamentally coaching skills.

If you know someone who is a designer, developer, leader, or investor in the computer technology space, I invite you to share these questions with them. 

For those people designing and investing in computer technologies that affect the lives of human beings:

What interpersonal and self-leadership skills are most important for people working on and with computer technologies? 

What non-technical skills, when improved, would most greatly help those designing and engineering these computer systems to be more effective in their work?

When you are hiring talent or determining who will advance in their career:

Which interpersonal and self-leadership skills need to be most greatly emphasized when evaluating prospective job candidates?

As human beings evolve, and our interaction with computer technologies evolves, how can we retain the most precious aspects of our humanity? 

As a leader, or people manager, who oversees the work of designers and developers in the computer technology space:

What non-technical competencies are most critical for your effectiveness as a leader or people manager? 

What non-technical skills, when strengthened, would help you make wiser decisions about how you influence the evolution of computer technologies?

For innovators, decision makers, and investors in computer technologies:

How can AI help teach humans to strengthen human capacities and qualities like listening?

How can AI help coaches better understand their clients?

How can AI help managers better understand their direct reports’ mental, emotional, social, behavior, and other human needs?

For us mere mortals who are simply users of these computer technologies:

What non-technical skills would help us use computer technologies more wisely?

While I certainly have a point of view that informs how I would answer the questions above, I am genuinely curious what experts in the space would reply. I also do not assume I know what is best for others. I look forward to engaging in this exploration and dialogue, then taking steps to support others in cultivating the key skills and competencies needed to ensure we retain and enhance our humanity as computer technologies evolve. Click here to share your thoughts on this month’s edition of Coaching Tips.