According to the New York Times, as artificial intelligence increasingly automates technical tasks and makes many aspects of work easier, the distinctly human skills involved in meetings—such as cajoling, arm-twisting, and reassuring colleagues—are rising in importance in the modern workplace.
The article suggests that while AI excels at handling routine and analytical tasks, the interpersonal dynamics that occur in meetings represent a domain where human workers maintain a significant advantage. These social and emotional skills, often practiced in the very meetings that many workers find tedious or frustrating, may serve as a critical differentiator between work that can be automated and work that requires human involvement.
The piece implies that as AI tools continue to advance and take over more technical responsibilities, workers who can effectively navigate human relationships, build consensus, and manage the social aspects of collaboration may find their roles becoming more secure and valuable, even as other aspects of their jobs become automated.