What Does It Mean to Be Human in a World Where Intelligence and Creativity Are Automated?

For generations, we've believed that education, intelligence, and creativity are the keys to success. We've spent decades refining our minds, learning how to think critically, and training ourselves to be original. The return on human capital was clear: the smarter and more creative you were, the more valuable you became.

But what happens when artificial intelligence surpasses us in both intellect and creativity?

We like to think that human ingenuity is irreplaceable, that our thoughts and emotions hold a unique value. Yet, AI is already writing code, composing music, generating art, and even outperforming us in creative problem-solving. A scientific study suggests AI is now better than the average human at divergent thinking, a key component of creativity. Meanwhile, major tech firms—Salesforce, Google, Meta—are quietly restructuring their workforces, recognizing that AI can replace entire layers of intellectual labor.

For years, we reassured ourselves that AI would handle the boring, repetitive tasks while we focused on creativity, intuition, and human connection. But what if even these aren’t uniquely ours anymore?

Are We Asking the Wrong Questions?

Instead of asking, “What will humans be good at?” maybe we should ask, “What does it mean to be human in a world where intelligence and creativity are automated?”

• Will we find purpose in work if we are no longer the best at thinking, problem-solving, or creating?
• Will we redefine success, moving beyond intelligence and skill as measures of value?
• Or will we resist, clinging to outdated narratives about our superiority, only to be gradually outpaced?

These are uncomfortable questions, but they’re necessary ones. The world isn’t just changing—it has already changed. And if we don’t reflect deeply on what this means, we risk waking up one day to find that the things we believed made us special… no longer do.