Human Touch in a Digital World: The Enduring Value of Soft Skills in AI-Driven Healthcare

Abstract

“What all of us have to do is to make sure we are using AI in a way that is for the benefit of humanity, not to the detriment of humanity” (Tim Cook)
As we stride deeper into the digital era of 21^st century, where algorithms learn faster than we teach, and machines outperform humans in nearly all fields of life including diagnostics, academics, and even creativity, the essence of being human is undergoing redefinition.¹ Artificial Intelligence (AI) has undeniably revolutionized virtually every aspect of our lives including healthcare, academia, finance and governance. However, as AI's reach extends, a paradox emerges: the more intelligent our machines become, the more significance our human-centered skills hold. In this era of exponential technological growth, soft skills; particularly empathy, emotional intelligence, adaptability, communication, and ethical reasoning have become essential.²

Soft skills more aptly described as “power skills," are typically defined as personal characteristics and emotional competencies that help individuals efficiently regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. In general terms, soft skills are the personality characteristics, attitudes, and social abilities that are intangible and more closely correlated with character characteristics and social skills than they are with technical proficiency.³ These include communication, creativity, emotional intelligence, and adaptability—skills that are becoming increasingly important in today's healthcare settings. Professionals that can successfully incorporate AI and cognitive technologies with human methods will be the most successful by 2030. AI will improve human capabilities rather than replace them. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, more than half of workers will require retraining, with an emphasis on soft skills to support technology improvements.⁴

AI excels at hard skills and automating mundane, time-consuming tasks but it falls short in areas like creativity, empathy, and human judgment. This is exactly where the very core behavioral skills come in, filling the gap and bringing human qualities that are essential for innovation and collaboration. Moreover, competencies like critical thinking facilitate the interpretation of results produced by AI and transform them into strategic decisions. Some essential soft skills for the era of AI include: