Building Emotional Intelligence in an Age of AI
Release Date: 01/30/2026
Building Emotional Intelligence in an Age of AI
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info_outlineWhat Sets Humans Apart? Key lessons from my conversation with Dr. Robin Hills
.As artificial intelligence accelerates and reshapes how we work, learn, and communicate, one question keeps resurfacing: What remains uniquely human?
That was at the heart of my recent On the Brink conversation with Dr. Robin Hills, a business psychologist and one of the world’s leading voices on emotional intelligence. Our discussion offered both reassurance and challenge—especially for leaders navigating rapid change, generational shifts, and technology-driven uncertainty.
Here are the key lessons that stood out.
1. Emotional intelligence is not “soft”—it is foundational
Emotional intelligence (EI) is often mislabeled as a soft skill. In reality, it is a core operating system for effective leadership, collaboration, and decision-making. As Robin explained, EI is about being smart with your feelings—integrating emotion and cognition to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. This matters because emotions are not optional. They are physiological and psychological responses to our environment. The choice is not whether emotions will influence us, but whether we will learn to work with them skillfully.
2. Self-regulation is becoming a critical leadership skill
One of the most striking themes was self-regulation—our ability to pause, choose, and respond intentionally. In a world of constant notifications, endless information, and emotional triggers, self-regulation is increasingly difficult and increasingly essential.
Robin highlighted how our attachment to devices can undermine emotional awareness, presence, and learning. When leaders (and teams) cannot disengage long enough to listen, reflect, or engage meaningfully, they lose both insight and connection. Mastering technology rather than being mastered by it is now part of emotional intelligence.
3. Emotional intelligence must be learned—and relearned
We often assume people “pick up” emotional skills naturally. Yet many do not. Education systems may introduce emotional awareness early, but rarely sustain it through adolescence, higher education, or professional life.
The pandemic amplified this gap. Younger generations lost critical years of social learning, while adults themselves were stretched emotionally. Rather than blaming or labeling behaviors, the opportunity now is to rebuild emotional skills deliberately—in schools, workplaces, and leadership development programs.
4. AI will not replace what makes us human
Despite growing fears about artificial intelligence, Robin was clear: AI does not have emotions, empathy, purpose, or meaning. It cannot truly collaborate, lead, or innovate in the human sense.
What AI can do is free us from routine tasks—making our emotional and relational capabilities even more valuable. Creativity, empathy, ethical judgment, perspective-taking, and meaning-making are not threatened by AI; they are highlighted by it.
The more technology advances, the more human skills matter.
5. Emotional intelligence gives us choice
Perhaps the most powerful insight was this: emotional intelligence gives us choice. Choice in how we respond under pressure. Choice in how we communicate across differences. Choice in how we turn uncertainty into opportunity rather than fear.
We will not get it right every time. As Robin noted, if you respond well eight times out of ten, you are doing well. The work is learning from the other two—without self-criticism, and with curiosity.
A final reflection
As an anthropologist, I see emotional intelligence as part of how humans adapt. Our brains may resist change, but our capacity to learn, empathize, and create meaning has allowed us to thrive across millennia.
In a world reshaped by AI, emotional intelligence is not a “nice to have.” It is how we remain human, relevant, and resilient—at work and in life.
If this conversation sparked new ways of seeing, feeling, or thinking, that is exactly the point.
Watch our podcast interview here.
Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow. Let's Talk!
From Observation to Innovation,
Andi SImon, PhD
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
Simonassociates.net
Info@simonassociates.net
@simonandi
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