Smart tech seen under spotlight, but the real star is human

At this year's Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in South China's Hainan province last month, I expected conversations about breakthroughs, applications and collaborations. Instead, what left the deepest impression was a different question: in an age of artificial intelligence, what happens to people?

The discussion was brought into sharp focus by Jiang Xiaojuan, former deputy secretary-general of the State Council. "If AI is used merely to replace labor without improving quality or sustainability, it must be approached with caution," she said. At a forum filled with optimism about innovation, her remarks introduced a note of restraint — and a reminder that employment remains a cornerstone of social stability.

That concern was echoed, and in some ways deepened, by Xue Lan, a professor of Tsinghua University. Unlike previous technological revolutions, the professor noted, AI is beginning to affect not only physical labor, but also cognitive work — the very domain humans have long taken pride in.

"If we assume, based on past experience, that new jobs will naturally emerge, that may not necessarily hold true this time," Xue said. He pointed to the need for stronger policy responses, particularly in social security, as workers navigate transitions that may leave some temporarily without income.

Listening to these discussions, I was struck by how the narrative around AI has shifted. It is no longer just about what the technology can do, but about how societies can adapt to it.

That question quickly turns practical: what kind of people will thrive in this new landscape?

On this topic, business leaders delivered a largely consistent message — the ability to adapt to and effectively harness AI is becoming essential.

Chen Xiaohua, founder and CEO of online service platform Daojia, said that familiarity with AI tools is fast becoming a baseline requirement. Candidates who cannot effectively use AI agents, he suggested, may struggle even to succeed in interviews. The implication was clear: AI literacy is no longer optional.

But mastering tools alone is not enough. Qiu Han, CEO of PayPal China and senior vice-president of PayPal, emphasized the importance of judgment — the ability to question and verify AI outputs. As AI lowers technical barriers, she noted, distinguishing between accurate and flawed results is becoming a critical skill.

Meanwhile, Denis Depoux, global managing director at consulting firm Roland Berger, pointed to a deeper shift in hiring logic. As AI takes over routine tasks, companies are placing greater value on industry experience and the ability to collaborate with large models, especially the skill to craft effective prompts, he said.

Taken together, these perspectives suggest that in the AI era, the competition is no longer simply between people, but between different forms of human-AI collaboration.

For me, the takeaway from the BFA is clear: as AI continues to evolve, the real challenge is not only whether technology will reshape the world, but also whether societies can ensure that this transformation remains people-centered, and ultimately works for everyone.