The Human Advantage Stronger Brains in the Age of AI 2026

Foster brain skills2 Brain skills fuel adaptability, creativity and performance amid accelerating change. Stakeholders can foster brain skills across the life course, from childhood through older adulthood. These skills can be strengthened in many ways, including: 1) providing children and young people with access to safe, enriching environments that support the development of future-ready brain skills; and 2) promoting brain skills through workplace interventions.50 Brain health provides a foundation for acquiring, developing and using what are termed brain skills – the foundational and higher-order cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership and technological literacy abilities that enable people to adapt, relate and contribute meaningfully. The returns on investing in brain skills are substantial, particularly when investments begin early, with quality early childhood programmes generating 7–13% annual returns and delivering up to 9:1 benefit-to-cost ratios in LMICs.51,52 These returns translate to better equipped workforces and societies. In the age of AI, fostering brain skills is more critical than ever. Every year, the World Economic Forum surveys over 1,000 employers across 55 economies and 22 industry clusters to understand how the needs of employers are evolving. In 2025, they found that, on average, 59% of employees will need additional training to meet evolving skill demands by 2030.53 When employers are asked what skills are most critical for the workplace of today and what skills are most critical for the future, skills that are defined as “brain skills” are overrepresented in both categories (see Figure 2). Brain skills are vital for the future of productivity and societal well-being FIGURE 2 Source: World Economic Forum. (2025, January 7). The future of jobs report 2025Brain skillsAnalytical thinking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Resilience, flexibility and agility Leadership and social influence Creative thinking Motivation and self-awar eness Technological literacy Empathy and active listening Curiosity and lifelong learning Talent management Service orientation and customer serviceAI and big data 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Networks and cybersecurity Technological literacy Creative thinking Resilience, flexibility and agility Curiosity and lifelong learning Leadership and social influence Talent management Analytical thinking Envir onmental stewar dshipFrom skills needed today … … to desir ed skills of the futur e The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI 10