AI is getting faster, smarter, and cheaper by the day. But here’s the paradox of the AI age: the more powerful machines become, the more valuable human capabilities are.
Deloitte’s research on high-performing teams makes this clear. Teams that consistently meet or exceed expectations aren’t just better at using technology—they’re better at being human. In a human-led, AI-powered future, performance hinges on capabilities no algorithm can replicate.
Curiosity: As technical skills decay faster than ever, curiosity keeps teams learning ahead of change.
- High-performing teams treat work as an ongoing apprenticeship, constantly asking “What if?” and “What’s next?” AI can surface answers, but only curious humans know which questions are worth asking.
Emotional and social intelligence: Trust, inclusion, and psychological safety turn groups of individuals into real teams.
- Members of high-performing teams were significantly more likely to say their team members respect one another (72% vs 31%) and ensure that everyone feels included (68% vs 50%) and are three times more likely to feel empowered to reshape their roles and make changes within their day-to-day jobs.
Divergent thinking: While AI excels at pattern recognition, breakthrough ideas often come from combining diverse perspectives in unexpected ways.
- High-performing teams intentionally hire for varied experiences (48% vs 16%) and actively value dissent. The result: better decisions, fewer blind spots, and more creative use of AI.
Informed agility and resilience: High performing teams are 2.5 times as likely to say their teams can quickly change direction.
- These teams pivot thoughtfully, learn from failure without blame, and bounce back stronger. In an era where change is constant, resilience isn’t a “soft” skill; it’s survival infrastructure.
Connected teaming ties it all together. The best teams collaborate seamlessly across boundaries, integrating human strengths with AI tools. Unsurprisingly, Deloitte found that high-performing teams report higher-quality experiences working with AI and with one another.
The takeaway is simple: AI amplifies what teams already are. If a team lacks trust, curiosity, or adaptability, technology won’t fix that. But, when leaders invest in enduring human capabilities alongside technical skills, AI becomes a force multiplier.
