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Written by: Elaine Benfield
Everyone is asking which skills AI will replace.
I think we're asking the wrong question.
I recently watched a TikTok interview in which Jay Shetty asked Lucy Guo what three skills humans should develop in a world where AI can do almost everything. Their first answer was simple: human connection.
I couldn't agree more.
AI can analyze data, summarize research, draft content, automate outreach, and even help negotiate terms. But it cannot build genuine trust. It cannot read the room. It cannot provide the emotional intelligence that turns a good conversation into a real relationship.
High EQ lets you sense what someone truly needs, navigate a difficult moment, and earn the kind of loyalty that closes deals, retains customers, and renews partnerships. That is deeply human, and it is not going away.
After more than 20 years in marketing, communications, analyst relations, influencer marketing, and executive visibility, I've learned that the most valuable opportunities never came from a perfectly written email or a flawless presentation. They came from relationships built over time, most often through meetings, conversations, and the moments when people connect face-to-face.
That is exactly why I named my company The Benfield Connection. The connection is the whole point. It has driven every meaningful result in my career, and it is what I help leaders and companies build.
Technology keeps changing how we work, and AI has become an incredible partner that helps us move faster and think more clearly. But the people and companies that stand out will be those that pair AI with authentic human connection across marketing, communications, analyst relations, sales, customer success, and executive leadership.
Visibility is not built through automation alone. It is built on EQ, credibility, trust, collaboration, and the relationships that inspire people to believe your story.
As AI continues to evolve, I believe human connection becomes increasingly valuable, not less.
Which human skill do you think will matter most in the next five years?
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