Artificial intelligence now calculates faster than any human, remembers more than any library, and recognizes patterns beyond the reach of ordinary human perception. It writes, translates, diagnoses, and predicts at astonishing speed. Yet as machines grow ever more capable, the most consequential question facing humanity is no longer technological, but profoundly human.

What kind of person, then, does the AI era truly require?

Across international organizations, universities, and leading industries around the world, a quiet but unmistakable consensus is forming. The future will never belong to those who try to compete with machines in speed or efficiency. Rather, it will belong to those who cultivate what machines can never replace.

First, the AI era demands people who can ask meaningful and creative questions. Artificial intelligence excels at producing answers, but deciding what is worth asking remains a distinct human responsibility. Research from institutions such as MIT and Stanford consistently shows that future-ready individuals are distinguished less by technical proficiency than by how they define problems. In a world overflowing with data, wisdom begins with asking the right questions.

Second, society needs individuals capable of maintaining a balanced relationship with technology. Fear of AI is as misguided as blind faith in it. The OECD defines technological literacy not merely as the ability to code, but as the capacity to understand, evaluate, and responsibly use technology. The AI era calls for neither technophobes nor techno-utopians, but for thoughtful users who grasp both power and limitation.

Third, learning can no longer be treated as a single phase of life. Skills and knowledge now become obsolete at unprecedented speed. The World Economic Forum repeatedly emphasizes “learning agility”—the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn—as a core survival skill. In the AI era, education is no longer preparation for life; it was life itself.

Fourth, human value increasingly reveals itself through deep thinking. AI is extraordinarily fast. Humans, by contrast, gain meaning precisely when they choose to be slow. Harvard research shows that sustained attention is closely linked to creativity, ethical reasoning, and sound judgment. While machines optimize speed, society still needs people who can pause, reflect, and consider long-term consequences.

Fifth, emotional intelligence remains irreplaceable. AI can simulate empathy, but it cannot bear moral responsibility for it. Understanding fear and trust, dignity and conflict lies at the heart of leadership and collaboration. This is why the World Economic Forum continues to rank emotional intelligence among the most critical future skills.

Sixth, ethical judgment cannot be automated. AI processes information, but humans decide values. UNESCO’s global framework on AI ethics emphasizes that as algorithms increasingly shape public life, responsibility must remain human-centered. Delegating moral judgment to machines is not innovation—it is an abdication of responsibility.

Seventh, the AI era rewards collaboration over individual genius. Contemporary challenges—climate change, cybersecurity, public health—are too complex to be solved by isolated brilliance. Google’s Project Aristotle revealed that high-performing teams depend less on individual intelligence than on psychological safety and effective communication. The future belongs to those who can collaborate across disciplines and cultures.

Eighth, resilience has become a core competence. The AI era offers more uncertainty than stability. The American Psychological Association defines resilience—the ability to function amid change and ambiguity—as a crucial life skill. As automation reshapes work and identity, emotional endurance matters as much as technical ability.

Ninth, self-reflection distinguishes humans from machines. AI analyzes external data, but only humans can examine their own assumptions, biases, and motivations. Leadership research from Stanford and Oxford consistently underscores self-reflection as the foundation of ethical decision-making. In a rapidly shifting world, the ability to question oneself may be the most undervalued human capacity.

Finally, the AI era demands a conscious commitment to preserving our humanity. The essential question of our time is not what technology can do, but what it should do. Human-centered AI initiatives emphasize that innovation must serve human dignity, not replace it. Progress without purpose is not progress.

The AI era does not ask humans to become faster, louder, or more mechanical.

It asks us to become wiser, more reflective, and more human.

In an age of astonishing technological power, human dignity becomes the greatest competitive advantage. The future will not belong to those who think like machines, but to those who remember why machines exist—and who devote themselves, throughout a lifetime, to thinking creatively about the future while faithfully cultivating what makes us human.

January 3, 2026

At Sungsunjae

— Solti

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