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With the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various work areas, emotional intelligence is proving to be more crucial than just cognitive abilities. Satya Nadella, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Microsoft, mentioned in a recent conversation with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer (the company behind Business Insider), that “As AI takes on more technical responsibilities, emotional intelligence (EQ) is becoming more significant in the workplace.”

Nadella, the CEO, said, “Although IQ is significant, it isn’t the sole requirement for the world,” and added, “If leaders possess only IQ and lack EQ, it’s essentially a misuse of IQ.” He noted that the significance of these qualities has decreased compared to earlier times since AI excels at managing straightforward knowledge-based tasks. Instead, he emphasized “empathy” as a crucial factor, stating, “Empathy has become an essential business skill and a type of social intelligence.”

When questioned, “Is the motivation for bringing more staff back to the office next year rooted in the significance of empathy?” CEO Nadella replied, “It is more crucial to acknowledge the role of human teamwork in the AI era,” and mentioned, “The workplace serves as the most effective collaboration platform.” In recent times, major technology companies in Silicon Valley have completely done away with remote and work-from-home options that were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, mandating employees to return to the office five days a week.

This year, Microsoft enhanced its employee performance assessments and terminated the contracts of thousands of workers. Furthermore, it recently restructured its leadership and named Rolf Hämmerle, who previously oversaw cloud computing operations, as an internal AI economics consultant. Nadella’s comments are part of considering which human qualities are essential in the age of artificial intelligence. Technology industry experts and workplace culture professionals highlight that problem-solving abilities, emotional intelligence, and innovation are especially crucial for human employees in the AI era.