The world has entered an intelligent age driven by AI. While some are wary of this technology and its impact, what if, instead of replacing us, AI ignites a skills revolution and redefines our relationship with work?

New Workday research, Elevating Human Potential, reveals that most employees (83%) believe AI will make uniquely human skills even more critical. Nearly all (76%) crave more human connection as AI usage grows. This points to a world where who we are matters more than ever before.

But we can’t achieve this future alone. It requires a collective effort – a movement of forward thinkers who embrace AI for good – to reimagine growth, empower individuals and reshape industries.

Imagine a world where AI doesn’t just automate tasks but frees us to focus on strengthening the unique qualities critical to human advancement: creativity, leadership, learning, and trust. This is the promise of a skills revolution, and together, we can make it a reality.

In the AI-driven workplace, creativity is emerging as one of the most valued human skills. Our research shows that 83% believe AI will enhance human creativity and lead to new forms of economic value.

Instead of fearing AI as a creative threat, let’s embrace it as a powerful partner. By automating mundane tasks, AI allows our imaginations to soar and our ingenuity to flourish.

But AI’s role goes beyond just freeing up time; it can actively spark creativity by generating novel ideas, analyzing data to reveal hidden patterns and offering unexpected perspectives.

This dynamic interplay between humans and machines can unlock a new era of innovation, leading to faster breakthroughs and industry transformations.

AI is fundamentally changing how leaders work and interact with their teams. Our research shows that AI adoption is expected to shift leadership priorities toward strategic decision-making and the upskilling or reskilling of employees to work alongside AI.

By automating routine processes such as performance reviews, creating growth plans and even writing job descriptions, AI is giving leaders the most valuable resource of all: time.

With this time, leaders can dedicate themselves to strategic thinking and vision setting. Using AI agents, they can analyze trends, anticipate future challenges, and streamline common business processes to free up time for more meaningful work.

Instead of being bogged down by day-to-day tasks, they can focus on the big picture and inspire their teams to achieve ambitious goals.

This shift towards human-centric leadership, powered by AI, is equipping leaders with the tools they need to create cultures where employees feel valued, motivated and better equipped to navigate the complexities of work today.

With 81% of employees agreeing that AI is fundamentally changing the skills needed to succeed in the workplace, a continuous learning mindset is necessary. But this time, it’s not just about learning new software or processes; it’s about understanding how to effectively leverage the power of AI itself.

This means upskilling to understand how AI works and how to interact with and leverage it to solve problems and drive innovation. AI-powered platforms are making this learning journey more accessible than ever.

In this era of rapid technological advancement, those who embrace AI as both a tool and a subject of learning will be best positioned for success. Think of it as learning the language of the future, where AI fluency is key to unlocking new opportunities, bridging talent gaps and staying ahead of the curve.

Trust is the bedrock of any healthy society, and many of our institutions are currently experiencing a crisis of confidence. But what if technology could help rebuild that trust? It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.

At Workday, we believe AI has the potential to usher in a new era of transparency and accountability, where the inner workings of our organizations – from governments to businesses – become more transparent and accessible to everyone.

This isn’t just wishful thinking. Our research reveals that a staggering 90% of people believe AI can significantly increase transparency and accountability. This reflects a deep-seated yearning for institutions that operate fairly and ethically, where decisions are made with clarity and objectivity.

The AI-driven skills revolution is upon us. But to truly harness its potential, we need to come together to actively shape its direction. This means fostering collaboration between humans and machines, embracing human-centric leadership, investing in continuous learning and promoting trust in AI through transparency.

So, what actions can we take to champion this shift?

By embracing AI as a partner in our growth, we can cultivate a world where human ingenuity flourishes alongside machines. Let’s step boldly into this future and build a brighter workday for all.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/elevating-uniquely-human-skills-in-the-age-of-ai/