'Collaboration in the age of AI' was the defining theme of the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. As AI capabilities accelerate, business leaders are grappling with a paradox: the technology that promises to supercharge productivity threatens to erode the human connections that make organizations resilient.
The WEF's Future of Jobs Report 2026 warns that early AI adopters are experiencing a loss of connection between coworkers. A Gallup study found that 63% of workers fear AI will make their work less personal and more isolating.
The Human Skills Premium
As AI assumes more technical tasks, the competitive advantage shifts toward uniquely human capabilities: emotional intelligence, creative problem-solving, ethical judgment, and trust-building. These are developed through repeated human interaction, not algorithms.
AI will commoditize knowledge work. The premium will go to people who can collaborate across differences, navigate ambiguity with empathy, and build relationships that unlock collective intelligence. -- Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO
Peer Forums: The Human Development System
Peer learning forums systematically develop the human capabilities that AI cannot replicate:
- Active listening: Understanding nuanced human perspectives that AI misses
- Empathetic problem-solving: Addressing challenges with emotional context
- Creative synthesis: Combining diverse viewpoints into novel solutions
- Vulnerable leadership: Admitting uncertainty and learning publicly
- Trust-building: Creating psychological safety across differences
The Forum@Work Difference
Forum@Work's platform develops these capabilities at scale. Our structured format ensures every participant practices active listening, gives and receives feedback, and contributes to collective problem-solving.
As AI transforms what work means, peer forums transform how humans work together. The question isn't whether to invest in AI or people. It's whether you'll build the human infrastructure to make your AI investment pay off.
