As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily work, professionals are being urged to focus not only on mastering new tools but also on the human abilities that are becoming increasingly important. Francisco Tonarely, a Business Development Representative in enterprise technology, emphasizes that communication, adaptability, judgment, curiosity, and relationship-building are essential in an AI-supported workplace.
Tonarely argues that AI can expand capabilities, but professionals must still understand context, evaluate information, and decide when to question AI output. “The goal should not be to compete with AI at the things it can do faster,” he said. “The opportunity is to become better at the things that still require context, judgment, communication, and understanding other people.”
Recent research underscores the growing need for these skills. Deloitte’s 2026 Global Human Capital Trends research, conducted with Oxford Economics and based on responses from over 9,000 business and HR leaders across 89 countries, found that 85% of leaders consider developing organizational and workforce adaptability critical. Yet only 7% said their organizations are leading in helping workers continuously grow and adapt.
Adaptability is becoming a daily skill as AI changes tools and job expectations. The same Deloitte research found that one-third of workers experienced 15 major changes in the previous year, yet only 27% said their organizations managed change effectively. Tonarely believes adaptability requires discipline, not chasing every new trend, but being open to better ways of working. “You cannot change direction every time something new gets attention,” he said. “But you cannot become so attached to the way you have always worked that you stop noticing when there is a better way.”
Curiosity is another key trait, especially since AI provides quick answers but the quality depends on the questions asked. Tonarely encourages professionals to question AI outputs and seek deeper understanding. Deloitte’s January 2026 study of 1,394 employees identified curiosity as one of the enduring human capabilities, along with resilience and emotional intelligence, associated with high-performing teams.
Human judgment remains critical as AI can suggest responses, but someone must decide if they make sense in context. Deloitte’s research indicates that organizations taking a human-centered approach to AI are more likely to achieve returns exceeding expectations, compared to technology-focused approaches. “Good judgment comes from understanding the situation, not just having information,” Tonarely said.
Communication also becomes more important as AI makes producing information easier. Tonarely notes that effective communication depends on understanding the audience. “You can have all the information in the world and still communicate it poorly,” he said. In sales, this is especially relevant, as conversations involve different priorities and technical levels.
Relationship-building cannot be automated. While AI can help prepare for meetings and draft follow-ups, trust develops through repeated interactions. “Technology can help you prepare, but it cannot make somebody trust you,” Tonarely said. For sales professionals, AI should create more opportunities for meaningful interaction, not just increased outreach.
Tonarely does not see a choice between AI skills and human skills; both are needed. Deloitte found that only 6% of leaders said their organizations were making progress in designing effective people-AI interactions, and 65% believed their culture needed significant change due to AI. Professionals can take responsibility for their development by experimenting with AI while strengthening their judgment, communication, adaptability, and relationships.
As AI becomes commonplace, these human skills may become less visible but more important. Tonarely concludes, “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. I think it will be the people who learn how to use it while continuing to develop their own judgment, communication, adaptability, and relationships.”
