Alan Boyer book argues AI makes human skills more valuable

A new book by educator and former Fortune 500 executive Alan Boyer says classrooms and workplaces need a deliberate strategy for building human capabilities as AI automates more execution work. The release says the book is already being adopted in higher education and has topped a category chart on Amazon.

Why it matters: - AI is shifting the value proposition of education and workplace training from task execution to human capability. - Boyer’s book argues that colleges and employers need a repeatable way to teach skills AI cannot automate. - The release frames those skills as central to innovation, employability and workforce resilience.

What happened: - Alan Boyer released “Power Skills Are Not Enough: The 7 Communication Superpowers That AI Cannot Automate.” - The book is designed as a practical primer for educators, learning and development teams and business leaders. - Boyer says the book identifies seven teachable capabilities: Cognitive Power, Systems Intelligence, Global and Cultural Signal Fluency, AI Fusion, Fluid Adaptation, Influence Engine and Insight Engineering. - Boyer describes the book as a roadmap for building talent that works with AI instead of competing against it.

The details: - Boyer says the core problem is not only technical skill gaps, but human capability gaps as AI takes over more execution work. - Boyer brings experience from both sides of the table, with two decades as a marketing executive and two decades as an educator and curriculum architect. - His corporate background includes roles at AT&T, Coca-Cola, Equifax and First Data. - Boyer is the founding managing partner of iThrive Learning Architects. - Boyer teaches in the School of Business at Georgia Gwinnett College. - His course designs serve a consortium of 120 colleges and universities. - Boyer also founded a nationally recognized digital innovation degree and certification program aimed at employer demand. - The book is published by iThrive Learning Architects LLC. - Each chapter is structured as a workbook with case studies, assignments and reflection questions. - The book debuted as the No. 1 new release in business school guides on Amazon. - The book has been adopted into undergraduate curricula at major research universities and business schools. - Learn more at the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The release positions “power skills” as insufficient on their own in an AI-driven economy. - Boyer is pushing a more operational model: define human capabilities, then build them directly into curriculum and professional development. - The argument echoes a broader debate in higher education about whether institutions can update fast enough to match AI-led change. - The book’s framing suggests employers are starting to value structured human-skill development, not just informal leadership potential.

What's next: - Educators and employers can use the book as a template for revising coursework, training and student conversations. - The release signals continued adoption in higher education if institutions accept the book’s premise that human capability should be designed, not left to chance. - The company says the book is meant to be used immediately in classrooms and workplaces.