Throughout history, humans have always focused on the future. The skills we build today will be put to use tomorrow. But what if those skills start to be replaced by something else? With the rise of Artificial Intelligence and its ability to take on more tasks, what is left for the employee to do? What is the most important skill you can develop as a future leader when AI is on the rise?

We humans have always feared new technologies taking over our jobs. The Industrial Revolution is just one recent example of the fear of machines replacing us in our jobs. And, as history has shown us, we humans are not completely replaceable. Still, these fears come up time and time again. The latest fear is that AI will come in and take over our jobs, especially when it comes to those in finance, tax and accounting, but we don’t need to be afraid. Why? Simply put, because machines will never master the unique skills it takes to be truly human.

Curiosity and Learning are Human Skills

The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report suggests that the jobs least likely to be lost to Artificial Intelligence include ones that require “human skills such as judgment, creativity, physical dexterity, and emotional intelligence.”

AI is not naturally curious, and because of this, it will never be able to replicate our most human qualities, among them, the desire to learn. When humans have a question, we have a natural curiosity that leads us to explore and learn about topics we might not have thought about before. It is this process of questioning, wondering, and discovering that AI will never be able to replicate.

It’s no surprise that lifelong learning is a skill on the rise and in demand for humans in our industry. Naturally, the next question is how do we find the time to learn more in a way that doesn’t make it seem like a chore? What tools might we humans leverage to spend more time on the things that will help set us apart? The answer is within the tool we’ve been resisting all along, Artificial Intelligence.

How AI Can Help Us Be More Human

AI will help humans do their jobs better because now, humans can spend more time on the aspects and areas of their roles that are more meaningful to both them and their companies. And, the more we accept and embrace what AI can do for us humans, the more we will be able to achieve.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational outlook for accountants and auditors over the next decade calls for the field to increase by 4% compared with a 3% average growth rate for all other occupations. Additionally, a Thomson Reuters survey found that 1 in 10 accounting and tax professionals are currently using ChatGPT/generative AI, or are planning to.

Companies that are embracing AI are seeing it as a tool to help drive job growth, especially with younger generations. We need to embrace technology and how it can help us, especially as young employee retention continues to be a focus for the industry.

Creating a Culture of Learning

At LumiQ, we believe in creating a culture of learning. This means encouraging employees to listen to content that genuinely interests them and peaks their curiosity, because that is the best way to learn and grow as a human being. By learning from real humans with lived experience, users who listen to LumiQ podcasts are more likely to engage and retain what they learn. This encourages more learning because it becomes natural, it becomes human nature to learn.

The most important skill to develop is to be curious and to always want to learn. That is the key skill to develop, once you have that, learning becomes enjoyable. The more curious you can be, the better off you will be as a future human leader.

For more information about our Alliance Partner LumiQ, visit their page here.