2026/06/15 by Michal Müller, Jaroslava Kubátová, Pavla Slavíčková +6 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Medicine · #Ethics and Social Impacts of AI #Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education #Educational Leadership and Innovation
paper · doi:10.1108/jwl-09-2025-0322
openalex publication_date 2026/06/15 · openalex created_date 2026/06/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/16
Purpose This study aims to investigate the critical soft skills required to succeed in Society 5.0, defined by the deep integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into all areas of life. It aims to identify which soft skills are universally valued and assess gaps between their perceived importance and societal mastery. From a business and organizational perspective, the study focuses on how companies, leaders and employees can develop human-centric capabilities to complement AI-driven work systems. Design/methodology/approach A two-phase qualitative approach was used. First, a “veil of ignorance” thought experiment inspired by Rawls was applied through an expert survey to reveal unbiased perspectives on essential soft skills. Second, in-depth interviews with generative AI professionals provided further insight. Data were thematically analyzed using grounded theory. Findings Five key categories of soft skills emerged: interpersonal, communication, thinking related, leadership/management and coping with uncertainty. Skills such as empathy, adaptability, critical thinking and digital literacy were highly valued but insufficiently mastered. A significant skills gap was identified, particularly in interpersonal and thinking-related areas. Research limitations/implications Findings are based on a select expert sample; broader studies are needed for generalization. Practical implications The results guide educational institutions, organizations and policymakers in developing targeted training strategies for human-centric skills. Social implications Emphasizing empathy, ethics and adaptability supports equitable, responsible AI integration and societal resilience. Originality/value This study uniquely applies the veil of ignorance framework to soft skills analysis, offering an impartial, future-oriented view of competencies needed in an AI-driven world. It also introduces a skills development model highlighting areas with the highest development need.