As Amy Cook, CMO at Fullcast, put it during a recent conversation with AI expert and University of Utah professor Jason Lowe, “It’s a complete remapping of how we do business everywhere.”

Lowe agreed. “We’ve had technological upheavals before — the Model T, the printing press, the internet — but never one that hit every sector at once. AI is changing the nature of work for everyone, from analysts to electricians.”

And that means one thing: If you want to thrive in this new era, you’ll need to sharpen distinctly human skills that machines can’t yet replicate.

Why this AI revolution is different

In past industrial revolutions, people had time — decades — to adapt to change. When cars replaced horses, horse trainers became mechanics. The economy shifted, but gradually.

“AI is evolving so rapidly that both white-collar and blue-collar jobs are being transformed together,” Lowe explained. “Robotics now mimics human dexterity, while AI handles knowledge work. For the first time, we’re automating thinking and doing at once.”

That acceleration has already begun. Amazon now employs more robots than humans — over 2 million machines working alongside 1.5 million people — with robots taking on roles such as package sorting and warehouse navigation. As Lowe put it, “Anyone who thinks this won’t cause disruption is playing ostrich.”

A recent New York Times article states that Amazon’s robotics team is determined to automate 75% of its operations, according to documents.

The five human skills that matter most

When Cook asked Lowe what skills workers should double down on to stay employable, he didn’t hesitate. He calls them the Five C’s, and they just might be your best defense in an AI-driven world.

1. Communication

The need to talk with people is fundamental. However, communication also includes learning to communicate effectively with AI systems, too. Those who can articulate prompts clearly, interpret responses wisely and guide AI tools to achieve better outcomes will have a distinct advantage.

As Lowe noted, “If you can’t communicate effectively with AI, you won’t be able to utilize it the right way.”

2. Collaboration

Even the smartest algorithms can’t replicate trust, empathy or the ability to work toward a shared goal. Collaboration remains one of the most human acts and one of the most valuable in organizations blending people and AI.

“Just because you can communicate doesn’t mean you can collaborate,” Lowe added. “Collaboration means working with others — human or AI — to get the best from both.”

3. Creativity

AI can remix the past, but genuine invention still belongs to us — for now. Creativity means connecting dots AI can’t see, imagining what doesn’t yet exist and asking questions that haven’t been posed before.

“Einstein was curious,” Lowe said. “AI isn’t quite there yet.”

4. Curiosity

In a world where knowledge doubles every few months, curiosity is the new currency. The best employees won’t just learn AI — they’ll explore it, push its boundaries and find new ways to use it. “Curiosity is what drives innovation,” Lowe said. “It’s what makes us human.”

5. Critical Thinking

AI outputs confidently, even when it’s wrong. The ability to question, analyze and verify remains vital. “AI is often sycophantic,” Lowe warned. “It tells you what you want to hear. Humans need to find the holes — and then tell AI how to help fill them.”

Staying employable in an age of intelligent machines

Cook observed that people who lead with emotional intelligence and intuition are likely to thrive. “We used to prioritize analytical thinking. Now, those with empathy and adaptability stand out,” she said.

Lowe agreed but added a warning: Comfort with AI is nonnegotiable. “If you’re scared of AI, you need to change or you’ll be a horse trainer in a Model T world.”

Learning to use AI tools effectively is the next essential skill, just as the telephone and computer once were. As Cook reminded, “We control the technology — it doesn’t control us.”

Looking ahead: Prepare, don’t panic

Lowe predicts that as automation scales, society will face “economic upheaval.” Junior analysts, computer science grads, and even salespeople are already feeling the effects as AI becomes increasingly capable of performing human tasks faster and more cheaply.

But he also sees a path forward. Governments and corporations are beginning to invest in massive AI infrastructure — what he calls the groundwork for a new kind of economy. “We may need to rethink how wealth and opportunity are distributed,” he said, hinting at early steps toward ideas like universal basic income.

Still, his advice for individuals is clear: “Be open to change. Stay curious. Learn to use AI before the race begins because those who start running now will be the ones who stay ahead.”

The bottom line

The future of work belongs to those who can balance human intuition with machine intelligence. The five C’s — communication, collaboration, creativity, curiosity and critical thinking — are no longer soft skills. They’re survival skills.

Or, as Lowe put it, “AI will make you better at everything you do — but only if you know how to think, question, and create beyond what it can.”

J’Nel Wright is the content director and social media manager at Fullcast, a Silicon Slopes-based, end-to-end RevOps platform that allows companies to design, manage and track the performance of their revenue-generating teams.