As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily work, the ability to adapt, communicate, and exercise judgment is becoming increasingly vital for professionals. Francisco Tonarely, a business development representative in enterprise technology, argues that while AI can perform many tasks faster, it cannot replace the human skills needed to understand context, evaluate information, and build trust.
Tonarely emphasizes that the goal is not to compete with AI on speed but to enhance the qualities that require human insight. "The opportunity is to become better at the things that still require context, judgment, communication, and understanding other people," he said. This perspective is supported by recent research from Deloitte's 2026 Global Human Capital Trends, which surveyed over 9,000 leaders across 89 countries. The study found that 85% of leaders consider developing organizational adaptability critical, yet only 7% believe their organizations are leading in helping workers continuously grow and adapt.
Adaptability is a daily skill that Tonarely places near the top of the list. With AI rapidly changing tools and job expectations, workers face significant change. Deloitte's research shows that one-third of workers experienced 15 major changes in the past year, but only 27% said their organizations managed change effectively. Tonarely suggests that adaptability requires discipline: "You cannot change direction every time something new gets attention. At the same time, you cannot become so attached to the way you have always worked that you stop noticing when there is a better way." Continuous learning is essential, not just formal training.
Curiosity is another key skill. AI can provide answers quickly, but the quality of those answers depends on the questions asked. Tonarely encourages professionals to question outputs and seek deeper understanding. "The fact that you can get an answer quickly does not mean you should stop asking questions," he said. Deloitte's January 2026 study of 1,394 employees identified curiosity as one of the enduring human capabilities associated with high-performing teams, along with resilience, divergent thinking, and emotional intelligence. Tonarely notes that curiosity is especially important for younger professionals, who can access information easily but must still care to understand it.
Human judgment remains essential. AI can summarize, identify patterns, and suggest responses, but someone must decide if those suggestions make sense in context, especially when information is incomplete. Deloitte's research argues that competitive differentiation increasingly relies on human capabilities like adaptability, creativity, and judgment. Organizations focused solely on technology were 1.6 times more likely not to achieve returns exceeding expectations than those with a human-centered approach. Tonarely says, "Good judgment comes from understanding the situation, not just having information."
Communication is more important when information is easy to produce. AI can generate reports and emails quickly, but effective communication requires understanding the audience. Tonarely, who works in enterprise technology sales, notes that conversations involve different priorities and technical levels. "You can have all the information in the world and still communicate it poorly," he said. Recognizing the difference between oversimplifying and overcomplicating is key.
Relationship-building cannot be automated. AI can help prepare for meetings and draft follow-ups, but trust develops through repeated interactions. "Technology can help you prepare, but it cannot make somebody trust you," Tonarely said. In sales, AI should create opportunities for meaningful interaction, not just increase outreach volume.
Tonarely believes AI and human skills should develop together. Deloitte found that only 6% of leaders said their organizations were making progress in designing effective human-AI interactions, and 65% believed their culture needed significant change. Organizations must help people learn to work differently, and individuals can take responsibility for their own development by experimenting with AI while strengthening their judgment, communication, and adaptability.
"The people who do well are not necessarily going to be the ones who resist AI or the ones who depend on it for everything," Tonarely said. "I think it will be the people who learn how to use it while continuing to develop their own judgment, communication, adaptability, and relationships." As AI becomes ordinary, these human skills may become less visible but more important.
