How is artificial intelligence changing the skills managers need?
Artificial intelligence is expanding managers’ responsibilities beyond planning and supervision. They increasingly need enough digital and data literacy to assess AI outputs, identify risks and bias, protect information, and make accountable decisions. They also need to lead workforce change, redesign tasks and workflows, and develop communication, critical thinking, collaboration and ethical judgment, since effective management still depends on people as well as technology.
Key points
- Managers need to evaluate whether AI-generated recommendations are reliable, relevant and fair rather than accepting them automatically.
- AI can require managers to coordinate technical specialists, set appropriate governance, and explain how automated tools affect staff and customers.
- People-management skills remain important for addressing job changes, building trust, and supporting learning and adaptation.
Things to check
- The balance of technical, strategic and interpersonal skills depends on the sector, organisation and manager’s role.