Why the future of work is both more automated – and more human

The reality is clear – as AI becomes more integrated into daily workflows, employees are reclaiming the countless hours once consumed by repetitive admin. New research reveals the most prominent AI applications in the workplace include summarising data (41%), generating documents (40%), conducting research (36%) and error checking (33%). The outcome? The removal of the mundane from knowledge work.

This shift is obviously great for productivity. But it’s also useful for something far more meaningful than just the bottom line: it is enabling deeper, more meaningful human-to-human interactions, at a time when they are most needed in the workplace. Deloitte predicts that by 2030, soft skill-intensive jobs will account for two-thirds of all jobs. At the same time, nearly half of executives (49%) and over a third of employees (37%) pointed to a lack of soft skills when asked why entry-level workers appear underprepared for the workplace.

Thankfully, because of AI, professionals, at all stages of their careers, are spending far less time on mundane tasks building a document from scratch. Now, thanks to streamlined document generation with AI, they are able to focus on soft skill development, including communication and relationship-building. This evolution is flipping the script around AI’s impact on the workplace and creating a future where technology can empower, rather than replace, the human touch.

Let’s dive into what’s changing.

Automation isn’t the end of work – it’s the return of work that matters

From summarising reports to checking spreadsheets and drafting documents, AI is now a daily assistant for professionals around the world. But for all the buzz about productivity and automation, there’s another dimension of this shift that deserves more attention: AI is freeing us up to be more human.

Companies are relying on the automation capabilities provided by AI to optimise document workflows and eliminate friction in other disciplines, but the biggest win isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about giving people back time; time they can use to focus on the kinds of work that can’t be automated, like building relationships, solving problems collaboratively and growing through experience.

The thing is, the completion of these uninspiring tasks is always necessary but almost never fulfilling, and they eat up hours of the day. AI sorts them in seconds. This doesn’t just make us faster – it changes what we do next, and how we do it.

The rise of automation is pushing us into a new era of prioritisation. Instead of endlessly toggling between systems and formatting documents, employees have space to engage in work that demands critical thinking, creativity and empathy. The time we gain is a gift. And the most impactful way to spend it is by becoming better communicators, collaborators and leaders.

The soft skills era has arrived – ready or not

AI is going to keep taking over more cognitive tasks and as it does, soft skills are going to keep moving closer to the center of what makes great talent. That two-thirds of jobs in 2030 will be soft-skill intensive is a remarkable shift, and is a telling sign that the skills once viewed as non-essential have become the exact opposite.

But equally remarkable (read: concerning) is the fact that half of executives and almost 40% of employees believe entry-level workers don’t possess adequate soft skills to work effectively. This is a hallmark of a troubling reality: our education and training systems haven’t kept up with the new definition of job readiness.

There can be no doubt that soft skills matter – research is pointing toward their increasing importance. The question ultimately is whether we’re giving people the time, tools, and opportunities to build them. That’s where AI becomes an unlikely and indispensable ally.

Time to grow, literally

When people are supported to spend less time building decks or chasing data, they’re free to grow. This is because AI doesn’t only cut admin, it creates margin. And within that margin lies the potential for mentoring, coaching, listening and learning.

This obviously benefits everyone, at every level, but this gift of growth is particularly valuable for professionals in the early stages of their careers. Entering the workforce today, especially as a knowledge worker, involves navigating hybrid models, new tools and shifting expectations. The best word to describe this is overwhelming. But AI is reducing the “noise” and helping create environments where junior employees can focus on communication and learning the subtleties of business relationships.

Of course, it’s not only new talent that benefits. Seasoned professionals are also finding renewed purpose as they invest their reclaimed time in mentoring others or deepening team cohesion. When the mundane is lifted, the meaningful has space to flourish.

And this is because the human touch is still our greatest asset

Despite ongoing but unfounded fears that AI will make us obsolete, it’s more likely to make us indispensable in a different way, especially if we lean into what machines can’t do. AI can’t forge trust in a negotiation. It can’t sense tension in a team or adapt its tone to support a colleague. It can’t mediate a disagreement and can’t read the room the way we can, making emotion-led decisions on the fly. These are uniquely human traits, and in the age of automation, they’re worth more than ever.

We’re seeing a rebalancing in the modern workplace. Excel shortcuts and business acumen, while essential, aren’t the only secrets to success today. Just as important now is being able to connect dots, align teams and bring people together around shared goals. These are skills born not from software training, but from time, trust and genuine interaction.

Empowering the future of work

The promise of AI is about outcomes as much as it is output. I’m excited by a future where technology disappears into the background, supporting the kind of work that moves people and organizations forward.

I’ve always believed in enabling knowledge workers to work smarter. But as AI continues to evolve, that vision expands: working smarter now includes working more humanely. AI is giving us time back. Let’s use it to connect more, lead better, and build workplaces where people thrive – not in spite of technology, but because of how we use it.