Becoming more human

As HR and talent management professionals, you're navigating a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The rise of advanced AI systems presents both unprecedented opportunities and profound challenges. Amid this transformation, our distinctly human qualities—particularly emotional intelligence—are more critical than ever for organizational success.

The Timeless Insight of Blade Runner

In the iconic film Blade Runner, the Voight-Kampff test is used to distinguish humans from replicants by measuring emotional responses. As I emphasized in a recent keynote address:

"Today, as we stand on the brink of more advanced AI systems, this distinction remains vital, and Blade Runner*'s insight has never been more relevant in our discussions about AI, robots, and the future of humanity."

The film underscores a fundamental truth: our capacity for emotion , particularly genuine empathy sets us apart from machines.

The Science Behind Emotional Intelligence

The Voight-Kampff test concept draws heavily from the work of renowned psychologist Paul Ekman. Recognized by Time magazine as one of the most influential psychologists in history, Ekman's research into microexpressions and the universality of emotions revolutionized our understanding of human emotion.

His work catalysed the field of affective science, leading to a precise understanding of emotion's role in the brain and social life. We now know that humans are emotionally rather than rationally wired. Before intellect engages, physical and emotional experiences shape our responses. Our judgments and behaviours are driven by these primary emotional experiences.

Emotions as a Form of Intelligence

Emotions operate as a form of intelligence guiding our decision-making. We've all experienced taking on someone else's emotions—wincing when we see someone get hurt or sensing a colleague's stress without them saying a word. This sensitivity enables us to build effective collaborative relationships, essential for survival and success. In fact, Michael Gazzaniga, a leading cognitive neuroscientist, states it emphatically:

"There’s no way around the fact. Our big brains are there primarily to deal with social matters, not to... cogitate about the second law of thermodynamics."

We are hard-wired to connect social interaction with survival. Emotions are signs of our deepest commitments, embedded in our nervous systems.

The Cultural Nuance of Emotions

While AI technologies strive to recognize and even replicate human emotions, they often miss the nuances. Psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett's research makes the reason clear -emotions are shaped by both biology and culture:

"Emotions aren’t just a face or a voice. They’re part of nonverbal communication, and facial expressions change their meanings depending on circumstances and context."

Cultural context matters immensely. People from different cultures may express emotions differently—some may smile when angry, others may cry when happy. AI, even with advanced language models, struggles to understand these subtleties.

Implications for HR and Talent Management

Despite the increasing uptake of AI systems, according to research by Towers Watson and Oxford Economics, employers still prioritise skills like relationship building, teamwork, co-creativity, and managing diverse employees over technical competencies. These are inherently human skills rooted in emotional intelligence.

As HR professionals, consider the following actions:

1. Cultivate Emotional Intelligence: Invest in training programs that enhance empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills among employees.
2. Leverage AI Thoughtfully: Use AI to handle repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on complex problem-solving and relationship-building.
3. Foster Inclusive Cultures: Recognize and respect cultural differences in emotional expression, creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

Shaping a Distinctly Human Future

In the face of AI's rapid advancement, technophobia is tempting but counterproductive. As I suggested in my recent keynote:

"We must leverage the extraordinary capacities of AI but collaborate to shape a future born of the values that make us distinctly human and behaviours that reflect our very human emotional intelligence. The machines are coming, but the future that we want is distinctly human."

Becoming more human by embracing our emotional intelligence, we not only stay relevant but also enhance our ability to lead organizations where people thrive alongside technology.

The future of HR isn't about choosing between humans or machines—it's about harnessing both to reach our full potential. Emphasizing emotional intelligence ensures we maintain the human touch that technology cannot replicate, driving innovation and success in an AI-dominated world.

To listen to my short Ted-Style keynote click here.