Human vs. Machine? The Future of Work in the Feeling Economy
What skillsets to prioritize when machines surpass human thinking?
In a recent podcast, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman remarked about his unborn child: “My kid is never gonna grow up being smarter than AI.” This thought-provoking statement raises several important questions: Will AI replace human intelligence in the workplace? What will the future workplace look like when machines surpass human cognitive abilities? Are we entering an era where workplace opportunities are threatened by machines, or will human-machine collaboration lead to unprecedented opportunities?
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and transforming the way we work. By 2030, an estimated 30% of work hours across the U.S. economy could be automated through generative AI technologies, affecting industries ranging from STEM to creative fields, business, and legal professions.
A study by OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania reveals that around 80% of the U.S. workforce could have at least 30% of their tasks influenced by Large Language Models (LLMs), with approximately 19% of workers experiencing changes to at least 50% of their tasks.
As AI evolves into a general-purpose technology, its impact on the workforce will vary. Some jobs will be enhanced by AI, while others will be replaced. High-skill roles requiring creativity and decision-making are likely to be augmented by AI, enabling greater efficiency and productivity. In contrast, low-skill jobs involving repetitive or routine tasks face a higher risk of automation and replacement in the near future.
This monumental shift suggests that the traditional dominance of knowledge jobs may soon decline. Both white-collar and blue-collar roles are poised for disruption. Beyond automating knowledge work, AI-driven robotics could take over tasks ranging from factory work and warehouse operations to cooking and cleaning.
This leads to a critical question: In a world where AI can perform both cognitive and mechanical tasks, what jobs will remain resilient to automation?
The Resilience of Human-Centric Roles
With the rapid developments in generative AI capabilities, concerns about job security are understandable. In this era of AI transformation, cross-skilling, up-skilling and re-skilling have become essential for staying relevant. Thinking jobs will be replaced or augmented by AI soon.
Naturally, questions arise: If thinking AI can replicate human cognition, could it also replicate human emotions with a Feeling AI? The current form of Feeling AI is designed much like Thinking AI but relies heavily on emotional data. In some cases, Feeling AI can even surpass human capabilities in emotional recognition. However, computer scientists continue to debate whether this approach is the right way to developFeeling AI that can mimic—or potentially surpass—human emotions.
Human emotions are deeply biological. Even a newborn baby, with no prior exposure to data, can naturally express emotions. Moreover, when machines begin to behave exactly like humans, they risk entering the “uncanny valley,” where their human-like qualities evoke discomfort. This is one reason humanoid robots designed to look exactly like humans, such as Sophia, are less widely accepted than more mechanical designs like Tesla Optimus.
Human interaction is inherently biological and evolutionary. While some people may feel more comfortable interacting with machines than with other humans—like in the movie Her—most will continue to value human-to-human connections, particularly in roles where trust, empathy, and emotional understanding are crucial.
So what are the jobs that are resilient to AI?
In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates described AI as “the biggest technical advance in my lifetime,” with a more significant impact than the personal computer, the smartphone, or even the internet. Yet, roles requiring creativity, empathy, and human interaction—such as social workers, therapists, and educators—are expected to remain resilient.
While technology can enhance fields like mental health and education by providing tools and support, the uniquely human traits of understanding, empathy, and adaptability are challenging for AI to replicate. These qualities are likely to become the cornerstone of the future workforce, highlighting the enduring importance of human-centric roles.
Before exploring the skillsets of the future, let us take a step back to examine the evolution of economies and how they have shaped our work landscape over time. To understand which roles will thrive in the future, it is helpful to trace how technological advancements have historically reshaped economies and skill sets.
The Evolution of Economies: From the Physical Economy to the Feeling Economy
The skills defining the workforce have always evolved alongside technological advancements. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) progresses, it continues to replace tasks once performed exclusively by humans, reshaping economies and redefining work.
AI can broadly be categorized into three types as outlined by Rust and Huang:
Mechanical AI: Automates repetitive, physical tasks, such as car manufacturing.
Thinking AI: Focuses on analytical and knowledge-based tasks. For example, IBM's Watson, which augments decision-making in fields like healthcare and finance. The thinking AI deals with analytical thinking and intuitive thinking.
Feeling AI: A level still emerging, designed to recognize and respond to emotions, social cues, and contextual data. While it is far from fully replicating human emotional intelligence, Feeling AI aims to engage empathetically in tasks requiring emotional depth, such as customer interactions and therapeutic applications.
In the past, physical labor was the most sought-after skill, defining what we now classify as the Physical Economy (late 18th century to early 20th century).
During the Industrial Revolution, mechanical AI took over much of the physical labor, giving rise to what can be described as the Thinking Economy (early 20th to early 21st century). This economy emphasized cognitive skills such as analysis and problem-solving, aligning with the emergence of knowledge-based industries. We are currently in the Thinking Economy.
Today, with generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) automating thinking tasks, we are transitioning into the Feeling Economy—an era that prioritizes interpersonal relationships, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Rust and Huang predict the Feeling Economy will dominate by 2036, as emotional intelligence becomes the defining skillset for workers. For example, customer service representatives now handle only non-routine issues requiring empathy and judgment, as AI chatbots address standard queries.
However, with the pace at which generative AI is developing, I wonder whether the transition might happen earlier than their prediction. As we move closer to this new era, one thing is clear: to thrive in the Feeling Economy, individuals must focus on developing the human-centric skills that machines cannot replicate.
Preparing for the Feeling Economy
To thrive in the Feeling Economy, individuals must cultivate “soft skills” that prioritize human connection. As Bill Gates aptly observed, “The more human, the more engaged you are with other people—that is a skill set that is in such short supply”.
The key skills for succeeding in this new era include:
Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
Emotional Intelligence: Recognizing and managing emotions in oneself and others.
Communication: Effectively conveying ideas and fostering mutual understanding.
Interpersonal Skills: Building and maintaining strong relationships.
Coaching and Leadership: Guiding and inspiring others toward growth and success.
Creativity: Thinking innovatively and solving problems uniquely.
Cultivating these skills not only ensures personal growth but also positions individuals to thrive in the emerging opportunities of the Feeling Economy.
Emerging Opportunities in the Feeling Economy
The Feeling Economy will drive entrepreneurial growth and expand the service industry. As AI takes over the thinking aspects of many tasks, humans will have greater capacity to focus on personal connection, creating fertile ground for solopreneurs and small businesses leveraging AI to enhance their services.
The service industry is poised to thrive in this new economy. We can expect the emergence of innovative products, services, and industries that emphasize human connection. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the dating app Quarantine Together used AI to match users while prioritizing human interaction, demonstrating how technology can facilitate meaningful relationships.
People-facing roles in healthcare, education, and other service industries will become increasingly vital. Human-AI collaboration will also play a key role, blending the analytical strengths of AI with the emotional and intuitive capabilities of humans to create more impactful and empathetic solutions.
People working in STEM jobs will continue to have opportunities, but the scope and number of these opportunities may evolve. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to imagine a manager overseeing a team composed of both humans and machines.
As these opportunities emerge, the need for a workforce equipped with empathy, creativity, and interpersonal expertise becomes paramount. To seize these opportunities, the education system must adapt to prioritize skills that prepare individuals for success in the Feeling Economy.
Rethinking Education for the Future
To equip the next generation for success in the Feeling Economy, education must evolve. The traditional focus on analytical thinking needs to shift toward cultivating soft skills that prioritize human connection and emotional intelligence.
Effective educational strategies for this transformation include:
Group Work: Encouraging collaboration and improving communication skills by engaging students in team-based projects.
Leadership Development: Providing opportunities to guide and inspire others, such as leading initiatives or mentoring peers.
Interactive Assignments: Fostering interpersonal skills through activities like presentations, role-playing, and group discussions.
By prioritizing these approaches, educators can help students develop the empathy, adaptability, and interpersonal expertise needed to thrive in the AI-augmented workforce. By equipping the next generation with these skills, we can ensure they are prepared to collaborate with AI, unlocking the full potential of the Feeling Economy while emphasizing the traits that make us uniquely human.
A Future Defined by Human Connection
As AI continues to transform the workforce, the Feeling Economy will emphasize what makes us uniquely human. Instead of competing with AI, we must learn to collaborate with it as an equal partner. By focusing on empathy, creativity, and interpersonal relationships, we can build a future where humans and AI work together to unlock our collective potential. AI will take on thinking jobs, while humans will excel in feeling jobs.
Sam Altman is likely correct about the future generation. With AI poised to surpass humans in cognitive abilities, the question arises: What should the next generation focus on? Kartik Hosanagar, Professor and Co-Director of AI at Wharton, advises his children to prioritize developing soft skills. As AI takes over menial and repetitive tasks, the next generation will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful, passion-driven work, leveraging technology to their advantage.
From an optimistic perspective on AI, the Feeling Economy offers a chance to redefine success by embracing what makes us uniquely human—empathy, creativity, and meaningful relationships. With fewer hours spent on mundane labor, we can move higher up Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, focusing on self-actualization and deeper connections.
The Feeling Economy invites us to embrace what makes us uniquely human—empathy, creativity, and relationships. By collaborating with AI, we can redefine success, focus on meaningful work, and create a future where technology enhances our collective potential.
References
Eloundou, T., Manning, J., Mishkin, P., & Clark, J. (2023). GPTs are GPTs: An early look at the labor market impact potential of large language models. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/generative-ai-and-the-future-of-work-in-america
McKinsey Global Institute. (2023). Generative AI and the future of work in America. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/generative-ai-and-the-future-of-work-in-america
Rust, R. T., & Huang, M. H. (2020). The Feeling Economy: How artificial intelligence is creating the era of empathy.
SHRM. (2023). Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates on AI and job disruption. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/oprah-bill-gates-ai-job-disruption
Fortune. (2025). Sam Altman discusses AI and the future workforce. Retrieved from https://fortune.com/2025/01/18/sam-altman-openai-kid-smarter-than-agentic-ai-ability-skills/
Hosanagar, K. (2023). Interview with Kartik Hosanagar on AI and skills. Retrieved from
Note: LLMs were used to do language and grammar checks for this article.