Emotional Intelligence in the AI Era: How Technology Can Make Work More Human

The words “artificial intelligence” have a global monthly search volume of 992.4K, according to SEMRush research. On the other hand, most recent data shows that “emotional intelligence” has a monthly search volume of just 377.7K. In today’s era of high-tech systems it’s no surprise that AI is often considered much more exciting than the human touch.

Yet the role of emotional intelligence, a term popularized by Daniel Goleman in 1995 in his book by the same name, is more important than ever in the workplace.

The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Future of Jobs Survey found that by 2025, emotional intelligence will be one of the top skills required in business. As workplaces become more complex and diverse, the ability to understand and manage emotions — both one’s own and those of others — has become essential for fostering productive and integrated work environments.

Challenges of Developing Emotional Intelligence in Modern Workplaces

Despite its recognized value, developing and applying emotional intelligence at work presents numerous challenges. Traditional training methods, which are often costly and difficult to scale, fail to provide the practical, real-time application necessary for true skill acquisition. Of the $200 billion spent every year on corporate training in the U.S., only 10% delivers real results, according to estimates from Harvard Business Review. Furthermore, identifying and recruiting talent with high emotional intelligence is a complex process, often relying on subjective measures and lengthy evaluation periods. 

Who would have imagined that the antithesis of human emotion — artificial intelligence— would hold the key to increasing emotional intelligence in the workplace?

AI: The Unexpected Ally in Building Emotional Intelligence

AI technologies can play a pivotal role in overcoming the challenges associated with developing and applying emotional intelligence in the workplace. At Humantelligence, I’ve seen firsthand how AI-powered self-assessments can scan entire companies and enhance collaboration. By analyzing communication patterns in meetings and written interactions (both offline and virtual), these tools provide real-time, personalized feedback on how to improve emotional interactions. Employees then receive insights on how to adapt their communication to better suit their audience’s preferences and motivations, ensuring more effective and empathetic exchanges.

At Humantelligence, we use AI tools to rewrite communication at the push of a button, tailoring messages to the emotional preferences of the recipients. This feature enhances day-to-day interactions and fosters a more emotionally intelligent workplace culture.

In meetings, our AI engine scans the dynamics and provides the emotional intelligence insights needed to improve productivity and collaboration. This proactive approach integrates emotional intelligence into everyday workflows; it’s no longer neglected in favor of productivity. We can, in fact, accomplish both objectives — a kinder, yet more productive workplace.

Our strategies also address the challenge of scalability in emotional intelligence training. Traditional training methods typically focus on a small percentage of leaders and managers. At Humantelligence, all employees receive personalized training up to 20 times a month. That’s 240 interactions per year. Consistency makes the training more impactful, leading to transformation.

But our emphasis on emotional intelligence (or emotional quotient — EQ) begins even before onboarding. During recruitment, we utilize advanced psychometric evaluations and behavioral analysis to assess our candidates’ emotional competencies. This approach allows us to identify high emotional intelligence candidates early in the hiring process, leading to better team dynamics and performance. 

You don’t have to be an industry leader in AI or EQ to employ best practices that can help raise the EQ in your workplace, creating a healthier, more productive organization. All it takes is three simple steps to get started.

3 Best Practices to Integrate AI With Emotional Intelligence Training

Integrating AI with emotional intelligence training can significantly enhance professional interactions and workplace dynamics. The following are just a few of the best practices I’ve learned while integrating AI across our organization and navigating the challenges that arose along the way:

1. Look for personalized learning opportunities

Three-quarters of Fortune 500 companies use emotional intelligence training, and for good reason. These AI tools can analyze individual learning styles and preferences to deliver tailored training programs that meet the specific needs of each employee. For example, if an employee struggles with a particular aspect of emotional intelligence, AI can provide additional resources and exercises to address that specific area.

An effective AI-driven platform should provide personalized insights and training modules that help employees develop their emotional intelligence skills in a way that is most effective for them. This approach ensures that employees are more engaged and can apply what they learn sooner rather than later.

2. Implement real-time feedback mechanisms

Real-time feedback is crucial for the practical application of emotional intelligence skills. AI technologies can provide immediate insights and suggestions based on an employee’s interactions and communications. In fact, one Gallup study found that 80% of employees who had received feedback in the past week were fully engaged at work.

To meet this need at Humantelligence, we implemented a tool that offers real-time feedback on email communications and meeting dynamics. These real-time insights appear directly within an employee’s workflow, which helps them adjust their behavior and improve their emotional intelligence in the moment. This continuous feedback loop is essential for reinforcing learning and promoting ongoing development.

3. Integrate emotional intelligence training into daily workflows

Emotional intelligence training should be seamlessly integrated into your employees’ daily workflows, including communication platforms and meeting tools. This integration makes it easier for employees to access and apply their training in real-world scenarios. 

For those who struggle with soft skills, AI-driven training insights can also be an essential resource for enhanced productivity and job satisfaction. According to research from IDC, organizations stand to benefit from up to $1 trillion in productivity gains worldwide over the next two years by implementing skills development powered by generative AI and automation.

AI can significantly improve collaboration among teams by providing real-time insights into their communications, helping them work better and faster together. This ensures that emotional intelligence training is not an isolated event but a continuous part of their everyday interactions.

AI-Driven Training: Boosting Emotional Intelligence for a Stronger Workforce

As emotional intelligence becomes increasingly important in the workplace, leveraging AI to provide scalable, personalized, and real-time training can address many of the challenges associated with traditional emotional intelligence development methods. 

By adopting best practices for integrating AI and emotional intelligence, organizations can foster a more emotionally intelligent workforce, leading to better communication, stronger teamwork, and improved overall performance.

Guest author Juan Betancourt, CEO of Humantelligence, is a visionary leader with a lifelong commitment to technology and AI’s impact on the human experience in the future of work. Having observed the limitations of conventional human capital management systems during his time at large F500 organizations and in the software industry, Juan recognized a need for innovation. It was this realization that led him to launch Humantelligence, where he saw the potential to transform productivity, team performance, collaboration, and employee retention while making psychometric insights accessible to all. With a track record of revitalizing global brands like Puma and overseeing the U.S. division of Décathlon, Juan’s executive-level operational leadership is unmatched. A Harvard economics graduate with an MBA from The Wharton School, Juan is committed to making the future of work accessible and better for all.