Dr. Robin Hills

Dr. Robin Hills is a globally respected authority in emotional intelligence and the director of EI4Change. As a business psychologist, author, and speaker, he has helped more than 500,000 professionals in over 200 countries master the art of emotional intelligence for leadership, personal growth, and ethical decision-making. He holds an Honorary Doctorate in Advanced Studies in Psychology and has been awarded International Impact Company of the Year for his global contributions. His work bridges the gap between human emotion and technology—ensuring that AI solutions are built with empathy, ethics, and human-centred thinking at the core. Robin’s passion lies in helping people and organisations harness the power of emotional intelligence to foster innovation, collaboration, and ethical responsibility in today’s fast-changing world.

What if the secret to better technology isn’t code—but compassion?

In this powerful episode of Talking with the Experts, we explore the vital connection between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with renowned business psychologist Dr. Robin Hills.

As the world races forward with AI innovation, many leaders are asking: How do we ensure technology remains human-centred? Dr. Hills, the founder of EI4Change and an internationally recognised emotional intelligence expert, offers an answer grounded in neuroscience and psychology. With over 500,000 students and global accolades to his name, he brings clarity to a complex issue: AI can be powerful—but only if we build it with emotional intelligence at its core.

Through stories, strategies, and science, Robin reveals how EI enhances communication, supports ethical decisions, and strengthens our ability to create technology that reflects human values. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or team leader, this episode offers practical tools for developing your EI and leading the future of tech with empathy and awareness.

Tune in now and discover how to make your business—and your mindset—future-ready.

🎯 Three Key Takeaways:

1. Why emotional intelligence is essential to building ethical and human-friendly AI.
2. How to develop stronger communication and decision-making skills using EI.
3. Practical ways to lead with empathy in a tech-driven world.

Importance of Emotional Intelligence in AI

• Rose Davidson introduces the topic of emotional intelligence in the context of AI, emphasizing its importance in ensuring technology serves humanity responsibly.
• Emotional intelligence enables professionals to understand and manage emotions, supporting better communication and collaboration between humans and AI systems.
• It helps identify ethical considerations, address biases, and enhance user experience by making AI interactions more empathetic and user-friendly.

Robin Hills’ Background and Motivation

• Robin Hills explains that their company, AI for Change, was developed about 15-16 years ago after their role was made redundant.
• The passion for working and developing people led to the establishment of the business, with a focus on emotional intelligence.
• The goal was to help people improve their performance at work, in social settings, and at home through emotional intelligence.

Definition and Importance of Emotional Intelligence

• Emotional intelligence involves being smart with thinking, combining it with feelings to make good quality decisions and build authentic relationships.
• It is about making authentic decisions and building appropriate relationships, which AI cannot fully replicate.
• Emotions are physiological and psychological reactions to the environment, and emotional intelligence is crucial for good decision-making and relationship building.

AI’s Limitations in Understanding Human Emotions

• While AI can help clarify thinking, it does not truly understand human emotions or experiences.
• Humans have unique experiences, upbringings, and relationships that AI cannot replicate.
• AI can have a transactional relationship with humans but cannot build deep, empathetic relationships.

Ethical Considerations in Using AI

• Emotional intelligence helps identify and address ethical issues where AI systems may fall short.
• It is important to determine how to use the outputs from AI, as AI is a tool but not perfect.
• In healthcare, AI can assist with diagnosis and recommendations, but human doctors must decide on the appropriateness and personalization of care.

AI in Education and Healthcare

• AI is entering the classroom but cannot replace the human element needed for liaising with children and parents.
• In healthcare, AI can assist with data analysis and diagnosis, but human intervention is necessary for ethical and personalized care.
• The human element is crucial in both education and healthcare, ensuring that AI enhances rather than replaces human roles.

Jobs at Risk from AI and Human Roles

• Certain jobs, like data analysis and accounting, are at higher risk of being replaced by AI.
• Jobs that require human interaction, empathy, and creativity, such as teaching and healthcare, will see a radical change but not complete replacement.
• Roles involving taste, smell, and nuanced communication, like chefs and interpreters for the deaf, are unlikely to be replaced by AI.

Four Key Elements Distinguishing Humans from AI

• The four elements are judgment and decision-making around ethics and values, empathy in building relationships, creativity and innovation, and spirituality.
• These elements are crucial for human roles and cannot be replicated by AI.
• Humans need to focus on these elements to evolve and adapt in the face of AI advancements.

Leading and Managing Teams with Emotional Intelligence

• Integrating AI into team working can make teams more efficient and effective, but human leadership is essential.
• Leaders need to motivate, encourage, and develop their team members, creating a learning environment and leading in an innovative, creative way.
• Effective leadership involves understanding team members as individuals, listening to their concerns, and making decisions based on ethics, morals, and good teamwork.

Robin Hills’ Courses and Offerings

• Robin Hills offers a bundle of the month, consisting of five courses on emotional intelligence, priced at 199 US dollars.
• The courses are available on Robin’s website, EI4Change.com, and there are also free courses available for sign-up.
• Listeners are encouraged to explore the bundle of the month and the free courses on the website.

Words of Wisdom

• Robin Hills advises being human, kind, responsible, and the best version of oneself, as these are qualities AI cannot replicate.
• Rose Davidson agrees, emphasizing the importance of these human qualities in the face of AI advancements.

• Emotional intelligence is crucial for ensuring that AI serves humanity responsibly, enhancing communication and collaboration between humans and AI systems.
• AI for Change was developed by Robin Hills to help people improve their performance at work, in social settings, and at home through emotional intelligence.
• Emotional intelligence involves combining thinking with feelings to make good quality decisions and build authentic relationships, which AI cannot fully replicate.
• While AI can assist in decision-making and analysis, human ethics, morals, and empathy are essential for appropriate use and relationship-building.
• AI can support rational decision-making and analysis, but human intervention is necessary for ethical considerations and personalized approaches, especially in fields like healthcare.
• Certain jobs, especially those requiring human interaction, empathy, creativity, and spirituality, are less likely to be fully automated by AI.
• Emotional intelligence can transform leadership by integrating AI efficiently while focusing on human motivation, creativity, and personal growth within teams.
• Robin Hills offers a monthly bundle of courses on emotional intelligence at a discounted price, encouraging exploration of his offerings.

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