AI Will Destroy Humanity. You’ve probably seen headlines like this recently and heard reports of “rogue” AI agents who have “broken out” of labs and created mischief without human supervision. This threat is certainly not to be ignored. However, I am old enough to remember times when television, rock music, and the internet were also thought to threaten the downfall of our society.
Like it or not, AI is here to stay and if you read Mike Lawson’s “Coda” article in our September issue, he describes how tech enablers can be a powerful tool to enable musical expression.
AI is already performing many of the tasks formerly performed by attorneys, computer coders, and medical diagnosticians, among many other occupations. So, what skills will be needed in the future? To find out, I typed this into an AI agent (in a bit of irony): What are the skills and attributes future employees will need when AI is replacing many occupations? It returned this answer in four seconds:
Uniquely Human Attributes (The Irreplaceable Layer)
These non-technical qualities represent skills AI cannot easily replicate, serving as the foundation for complex decision-making and human connection:
- Emotional Intelligence & Empathy: Essential for leadership, high-stakes negotiation, client relations, and team dynamic management. Building trust and managing nuanced human relationships remains a human domain.
- Original Creativity & Storytelling: While AI generates content from existing data patterns, humans provide novel creative vision, emotional resonance, and strategic narrative framing to contextually engage audiences.
- Adaptability & Growth Mindset: As workflows and technology evolve, workers must unlearn outdated methods, pivot rapidly, and embrace continuous learning.
- Ethical Judgment & Moral Reasoning: AI tools lack values and moral accountability. Humans are required to navigate ethical dilemmas, guard against bias, ensure regulatory compliance, and align automated outputs with societal standards.
According to a recent survey (see “The Lasting Value of Music Education” in this issue), there are many skills and traits music education can help young people develop. These include creativity (79%), focus (77%), confidence (75%), presentation (75%), emotional expression (73%), teamwork (73%), discipline (72%), and resilience (60%). Gosh! There seems to be quite a bit of overlap between this list and the skills needed in a future AI-enabled environment. Perhaps arts education and liberal arts programs should be seen as the new STEM!
Another reason for my renewed optimism about the future is because of a recent visit to a university that specializes in teacher education. I received a Master of Fine Arts in Music Education degree many years ago from what is now known as Truman State University. I was recently invited to visit them as an Alumni Fellow which recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers. The program is designed to expose students to outstanding alumni who share extensive knowledge and real-world experience from their respective fields.
During the visit I got to talk with, conduct, and observe many future music educators and I was inspired by them. So, maybe things aren’t so bad!
This issue reveals the finalists for our Teacher’s Choice Awards. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to tell the music industry what you value. Click https://sboplus.net/teachers-choice-awards/ and submit your vote.
