AI Era Demands Human Skills: Critical Thinking and Judgement

The traditional way for young professionals to learn by doing is being disrupted by AI. IBM's chief talent, leadership, and culture officer Aparna Nair says that critical thinking and judgement are becoming increasingly important skills in this era of automation.

Nair notes that while AI can perform repetitive tasks, it cannot replace the ability to think critically and make informed decisions under uncertainty and ambiguity. She emphasizes that employees need to be able to question information and make decisions when there is no straightforward answer.

An IBM survey found a skills gap between employers and workers, with 57% of chief human resources officers identifying critical thinking as an important skill in the AI era, compared to 49% of employees. The gap was even wider for judgement under uncertainty and ambiguity, with 48% of CHROs considering it important versus 29% of employees.

Nair suggests that workers can develop these skills by treating AI-generated information as something to evaluate rather than automatically accept. She recommends asking questions, considering different perspectives, thinking several steps ahead, and observing how experienced decision-makers approach problems.