As AI gets smarter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says humans can’t rely solely on their brains to succeed at work.
In a recent conversation with Matthias Dopfner, CEO of Axel Springer, Nadella said he agrees that emotional intelligence (EQ) is becoming increasingly important in the workplace as AI handles more technical tasks. Axel Springer is the parent company of Business Insider.
“IQ has a place, but it’s not all that’s needed in the world,” Nadella said on the Nov. 29 episode of Dopfner’s MD Meets podcast. “I’ve always felt, at least in leaders, that having IQ without EQ is just a waste of IQ.”
Nadella added that social intelligence is also key, and previously said empathy is not just a soft skill, but a critical business skill.
Dopfner also asked if the importance of empathy is part of the reason Microsoft is bringing more people back to the office starting early next year. Nadella said it is even more important to recognize the role of human collaboration in the age of AI, and that the workplace is “the best collaboration tool.” However, he added that he did not want to be “arbitrary” about RTO obligations.
Mr. Nadella recently reorganized Microsoft’s executive team to make it more competitive in the AI race, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. Nadella also named Rolf Harms, who helped Microsoft make cloud computing a success, as an advisor on AI economics, according to a memo Nadella sent in November. With a new superintelligence team, Microsoft is pursuing artificial general intelligence, a technology that can outperform humans at a variety of complex tasks.
Microsoft has increased scrutiny of employee performance this year, laying off thousands of people. A spokesperson previously told Business Insider that most of the layoffs are not performance-based and are aimed at streamlining operations.
Many workplaces are starting to focus on soft skills as they delegate more technical responsibilities to AI. Executives and workplace change experts have previously told Business Insider that problem-solving, emotional intelligence and creativity are particularly important.
