Are humans really going to be replaced by AI? Will it really do us out of jobs?

In some cases, I suspect that will be, already is, the case. But not all, certainly not yet. Maybe in the future? Perhaps, but definitely not in MY lifetime.

So what can we do that AI can’t? Let’s break it down from MY perspective:

Benefits of using AI in preference to People:

Businesses can gain a remarkable amount from integrating AI—often without needing to supply it with biscuits, motivational posters, or a team-building afternoon. So what, really, are the benefits? From my perspective, they are:

1. Efficiency and Speed
AI can process vast amounts of information in seconds, completing tasks that would take humans hours, days, or entire fiscal quarters. It doesn’t get distracted by office gossip or emails titled “Quick question…”

2. Cost Savings
By automating repetitive tasks—data entry, scheduling, customer queries—AI reduces labour costs and frees humans to do work that actually requires thinking, creativity, or charm.

3. Better Decision-Making
AI can analyse trends, patterns, and market data with cold, mathematical clarity. It won’t make a major investment because it “has a good feeling about it,” nor will it ignore evidence because the salesperson brought in doughnuts.

4. Consistency and Accuracy
AI doesn’t make typos, forget processes, or decide to ignore the company handbook. It performs the same task the same way every time, without off days or mysterious spreadsheet errors.

5. 24/7 Availability
AI doesn’t need sleep, weekends, or a holiday rota. It can support customers across time zones, operate systems overnight, and never once complain about working Christmas Eve.

6. Scalability
Whether a business has ten customers or ten million, AI systems can scale up without needing to hire an army of new staff or rent more office space.

7. Improved Customer Experience
AI can respond quickly, personalise recommendations, and handle routine enquiries instantly, leaving human staff to handle complex or high-value interactions (or soothe those customers who insist their password definitely was “1234”).

In essence, AI helps businesses work smarter, faster, and more reliably, while humans continue to provide the emotional intelligence, relationship-building, and creative spark that keeps business interesting—and occasionally chaotic.

Benefits to businesses of using humans rather than AI:

While AI is brilliant at crunching numbers and never needing a day off, businesses still gain enormous value from employing actual humans—those unpredictable, caffeinated creatures who make workplaces lively and deals possible.

Here are some key benefits of humans in business:

1. Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
Humans can read a room, sense tension, notice when someone is having a day, and adjust accordingly. AI might detect a raised voice, but it won’t offer a supportive smile, a calming cup of tea, or know when to tactfully change the subject.

2. Creativity and Innovation
Humans invent new products, come up with wild ideas, and occasionally spark breakthroughs in the shower. AI can improve what exists; humans imagine what doesn’t—even if half those ideas involve reinventing the stapler.

3. Relationship Building
Business often runs on trust, rapport, and the subtle art of getting someone to sign a contract because they like you. AI can schedule the meeting, but it won’t develop the kind of relationship that ends with a handshake and a celebratory lunch.

4. Adaptability and Improvisation
When plans go wrong—and they will—humans can improvise, negotiate, charm, apologise, or bribe the printer into working again. AI prefers tidy predictability and has no strategy for “the Wi-Fi just died and the client is already on Zoom.”

5. Ethical Judgment and Values
Humans can consider nuance, fairness, cultural context, and whether something is simply the right thing to do. AI may follow rules, but ethics requires empathy, conscience, and occasionally a deep sigh.

6. Persuasion and Influence
From sales pitches to staff motivation, humans can inspire enthusiasm, loyalty, and action. AI can present data, but it cannot deliver a passionate speech that convinces the team to push through the final hurdle—especially not one involving metaphors about ships or mountains.

7. Understanding the Irrational
Customers are emotional, inconsistent, and often illogical. Humans understand this because they, too, have bought something unnecessary at 11 p.m. out of sheer boredom. AI struggles with decisions based on “it just felt right.”

In short, humans bring heart, humour, and originality to business. They build relationships, drive innovation, and navigate the messy, irrational world of real people. AI may optimise the workflow, but humans give business its soul—and occasionally bring cake, which is equally important.