As AI gets smarter, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says that humans can’t rely on their brains alone to succeed at work.
In a recent conversation with Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, Nadella said he agrees that emotional intelligence, or EQ, is becoming increasingly important at work as AI handles more technical tasks. Axel Springer is Business Insider’s parent company.
“IQ has a place, but it’s not the only thing that’s needed in the world,” Nadella said on an episode of Döpfner’s “MD Meets” podcast that aired November 29. “I’ve always felt, at least leaders, if you just have IQ without EQ, it’s just a waste of IQ.”
Nadella added that social intelligence is also key, and has previously said that empathy is an important business skill, not just a soft skill.
Döpfner also asked whether the importance of empathy is part of why Microsoft is calling more people back to the office, starting early next year. Nadella said that, in the age of AI, it’s even more important to recognize the role of human collaboration, and that the workplace is “the best collaboration tool.” He added, however, that he doesn’t want to be “dogmatic” about RTO mandates.
Nadella has recently reshuffled Microsoft’s leadership team in part to better compete in the AI race, according to documents reviewed by Business Insider. He also tapped Rolf Harms, who helped Microsoft on its journey to cloud-computing success, to serve as an advisor on AI economics, according to a memo Nadella sent in November. With its new superintelligence team, Microsoft is pursuing artificial general intelligence, or technology capable of outperforming humans on a range of complex tasks.
Microsoft has laid off thousands of people this year, as the company has increased its scrutiny of employees’ performance. A spokesperson previously told Business Insider that most of the cuts weren’t based on performance, but instead aimed to streamline operations.
Many workplaces are starting to value soft skills as they delegate more technical responsibilities to AI. Executives and workplace transformation experts previously told Business Insider that problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and creativity are especially important.
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