Study on the Influence of AI on the World of Work: How can Teamwork between Humans and Machines succeed?

C-level survey with 1000 participants on the future of AI

Munich, March 20, 2026: If AI systems take over more and more work tasks in the future, what role will humans still play? The digital consultancy valantic investigated this question in its current C-level survey Digital Excellence Outlook 2026 together with the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI). The results show that management is expecting profound changes in the world of work due to the influence of AI – and this will happen in the near future. Employees will have to learn to work side by side with AI agents. And the role of managers will also be redefined. How can humans and machines work together successfully?

Together with the HRI, valantic surveyed more than 1,000 decision-makers from companies in the DACH region about how artificial intelligence will change the world of work, markets and companies in the coming years. There seems to be broad agreement on the direct benefits that the use of artificial intelligence will generate in companies: 79% of those surveyed believe that companies that do not consistently integrate AI into their core processes and business models will lose their competitiveness by 2030.

According to the survey, AI will increase productivity, efficiency and performance – provided it is used smartly, purposefully and in line with corporate goals. But how will the role of human employees change in a working world in which more and more tasks and responsibilities will be transferred to AI systems and teams will be interspersed with autonomous AI agents?

Creativity, empathy, ethical judgment: key skills of the future

The “Digital Excellence Outlook – AI at Scale” study shows that the requirements for human skills in the world of work will change fundamentally by 2030. While analytical and operational tasks will be increasingly automated by AI, 80 percent of the decision-makers surveyed see creativity, empathy and ethical judgment as the most valuable skills of the future. These human skills will not only be crucial for differentiation in an increasingly automated world, but will also become central building blocks for innovation and sustainable business success. The results underline how important it is for companies to recognize the relevance of these skills, promote them in a targeted manner and integrate them into everyday working life.

Changing leadership role: from decision-maker to AI inspector

82% of respondents are convinced that AI will have a significant influence on decision-making in companies by 2030. In this scenario, the role of managers will be greatly transformed – away from traditional decision-making processes and towards the critical review of intelligent AI systems.

At the same time, the heavy reliance on AI is seen as a challenge: 67% of respondents warn that key human skills such as problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurial thinking could be lost due to automation, which could affect the competitiveness of companies in the long term.

Responsibility and new leadership roles in the age of AI

The study makes it clear that companies must not only assume technological responsibility in the AI transformation, but also social responsibility. 75 percent of respondents believe that by 2030, progressive companies will establish targeted programs to promote cognitive performance and mental health in order to compensate for the effects of less demanded human thinking power. In addition, companies are expected to take responsibility for the fair use of data and the retraining of the workforce.

Another key change is the introduction of new leadership roles: For example, four out of five respondents are convinced that companies will need dedicated AI officers – such as Chief AI Officers or Agent Workforce Leads – in the coming years to strategically manage the economic and ethical benefits of AI.

Opportunities and challenges of an AI-driven working world

“Our joint study with the HRI clearly shows that artificial intelligence will fundamentally change the world of work – not only through the automation of routine activities, but also through the redesign of decision-making processes and management tasks,” explains Laurenz Kirchner, Managing Director and Head of the Data & AI Practice at valantic. “The real challenge is to combine technological progress with the targeted promotion of human skills such as creativity, empathy and ethical thinking. Only companies that take responsibility for the impact of AI seriously will be successful in the long term.”

Conclusion: Get ready for a completely new world of work

The study makes it clear that AI will revolutionize the world of work in the coming years. Managers see AI as the driving force behind the automation of operational tasks and the transformation of business decisions. At the same time, they call for a conscious approach to the risks that dependence on AI can entail.

Human skills – from creativity to empathy – could become a decisive competitive advantage. It is up to companies to maintain the balance between technological progress and the promotion of human skills and to adapt strategically to the ethical and economic challenges of the AI age.