On October 29th, I participated in People Culture TechFest at the Rzeszów Philharmonic. It was an event that brought together people mainly from HR, business, technology, journalism, psychology, and art sectors, who came…

On October 29th, I participated in People Culture TechFest at the Rzeszów Philharmonic. It was an event that brought together people mainly from HR, business, technology, journalism, psychology, and art sectors, who came to Rzeszów from various corners of Poland to jointly answer the question of how we, as humans, should find our place in the age of AI, so that Artificial Intelligence doesn't replace humans but serves as a super tool in their hands. Among many interesting topics, the subject of neurodiversity in the workplace particularly caught my attention.

What we're talking about

According to Ms Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, neurodiversity refers to diverse ways of thinking, processing sensory information, and perceiving. The term is considered to describe individuals whose behaviours don't fit within the norms accepted by the general population. This includes autism spectrum disorders (including Asperger's syndrome), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and others.

However, what motivated me to reflect more deeply was a statement by one of the experts who, in a somewhat joking tone, said that we are all, in a sense, neurodiverse due to the unique way in which each of our brains has been built.

Untapped potential in the labour market

The discussion began by presenting the differences that characterise people with special needs, whose consideration could significantly improve their work efficiency. Several examples were cited: a person with hypersensitivity to sounds (appropriate noise-cancelling headphones), someone who prefers working with text on paper, and people on the autism spectrum who may possess above-average mathematical or musical abilities, or extraordinary photographic memory.

It's hard to resist the impression that if one were to adapt the work environment to individual capabilities, this could have a very beneficial impact on both the employee and the entire enterprise.

Is it worth it

The latest UN report from 2024 states that the global population is approximately 8.2 billion people. By replacing the human factor with AI, we simplify almost every professional aspect while minimising stress levels. Moreover, using modern technology allows us to reach more people and facilitates daily functioning.

Technology in service of humanity

Standing on the threshold of a fascinating technological revolution, we must not forget that this is a change created by humans to make their lives better. Humans, who by their very nature are social beings, need other people to develop their soft skills – factors that cannot be replaced even by AI, and which, when properly utilised, can prove to be an excellent investment in company development.

And what's your opinion? How can we harness human potential in the age of AI? I invite you to discuss in the comments!

Wioletta Wójcicka-Sroka