Machines Are Outperforming Us. How Do We Thrive?

We need a resurgence in our innate human qualities because we can't beat AI in IQ and even EQ-driven fields

- Nitin Seth

From the human perspective, our once-assumed edge is now fundamentally challenged. The capabilities we believed to be our unique advantages are no longer guaranteed to provide a sure-fire upper hand. These capabilities draw from the core dimensions of human potential that have historically enabled us to live meaningfully, work effectively, and succeed—together forming what I call the Human Quotient. This quotient is shaped by the interplay of four broad dimensions: physical quotient (PQ), intelligence quotient (IQ), emotional quotient (EQ) and spiritual quotient (SQ).

And as we trace the arc of human evolution, it becomes clear that machines and AI have been steadily encroaching on each of these dimensions—reshaping what it means to have a human edge.

For much of human history, PQ—strength, stamina and might—marked our dominance, a trend that lasted until the Industrial Revolution. As machines took over physical tasks, the focus shifted, and IQ started emerging as the key human advantage. However, over the past 10–15 years, with the digital age giving rise to machine learning (ML) and AI, IQ as a human edge has also steadily diminished. AI now surpasses humans in tasks like pattern recognition, natural language processing and even creative problem-solving.