Recently, I was asked:“In a world of Artificial Intelligence, what will still make humans indispensable?”

The question lingers everywhere now. AI is advancing at a rate faster than most of us imagined. It can out-think, out-analyze, and even out-create in ways we once considered uniquely human. But the answer I gave was simple: everything that actually makes us human.

We live in an age of abundance and anxiety. Data is everywhere. Tools multiply daily. Options are infinite. And yet, with this abundance comes uncertainty. Harvard Business Review recently noted that soft skills like influence, communication, and collaboration are not only the most in-demand skills but also the most lacking. Here lies the paradox: the smarter our machines become, the more human intelligence matters. Not IQ. Not even EQ. But Transactional Intelligence™ (TQ).

At Influential U, we define it this way: Transactional Intelligence™ is the ability to manage and influence exchanges with others. Think about it: every deal you negotiate is an exchange. Every pitch, every partnership, every relationship, that's an exchange. Even this blog post, between me and you, is an exchange. It’s how humans get anything done. It’s how society works. And yet, most of us were never taught how to transact effectively.

AI can analyze data, draft proposals, or generate designs at lightning speed. But here’s what it cannot do: build trust in a tense negotiation. Sense when a client is hesitating and adjust on the spot. Inspire a team to commit, not just with logic, but with presence and timing. Machines optimize efficiency. Humans, through Transactional Intelligence™, optimize trust. And when you combine the two, AI as amplifier and TQ as compass, you unlock the power to co-create a future where humans and machines don’t compete, but collaborate.

I once worked with a brilliant founder who built an AI-driven product years ahead of its time. His tech was flawless. His pitch was not. Investors weren’t convinced. Customers weren’t adopting. He didn’t need a better algorithm. He needed a better transaction. Once he learned to identify the right audience, ask the right questions, and build trust before asking for money, everything changed. Within six months, he had secured funding and distribution. The breakthrough wasn’t his AI. It was his Transactional Intelligence™.

If you want to thrive in the age of AI, don’t just ask: “What can I automate?” Ask: “What can only I, as a human, exchange?” Because in the end, it won’t be the smartest code that wins. It won’t be the most efficient algorithm. It will be the people who master the art of exchange; those who influence, adapt, and build futures together. That is the enduring edge. That is Transactional Intelligence™.

Author
John Patterson
Cofounder and CEO
INFLUENTIAL U
John Patterson steers the ship at Influential U, boldly challenging the traditional, often myopic views of success in our hyper-individualistic era. He isn’t afraid to poke fun at the archaic obsession with attributing every win or loss to single actors, calling out the industry’s penchant for oversimplified 'transactional' comprehension. Leading a crack team dedicated to innovating businesses and business ecosystems, John is all about integrating the personal with the whole system—because, let’s face it, no one wins alone.