The most human skill in the age of AI | Maya Makarovsky | TEDxMIT

As technology becomes more powerful, our connection to each other is becoming more fragile. In a world where AI can write our messages, respond on our behalf, and simulate interaction, we risk outsourcing the very moments that define how we connect. In this talk, Maya Makarovsky argues that the most important skill in the age of AI is not technical, but rather human. Drawing on global experiences in collaboration and negotiation, she shares a practical playbook to strengthen human connection in an increasingly automated world. Maya Makarovsky is an MIT alum Class of 2025, where she studied Computer Science, Economics, Data Science, and Business Analytics. She currently works as an Associate Consultant at Bain & Company. At MIT, Maya worked across many disciplines and countries, where her experiences in global collaboration and negotiation sparked a passion for bridging technical skills with human connection. She is a recipient of the 2025 Suzanne Berger Award for Future Global Leaders and will return to MIT to pursue a joint MBA and MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science through Sloan’s Leaders for Global Operations (LGO) program. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx