Can technology be your teammate?

At the Disrupting Technology Conference 2025 in Leeds, Professor Na Fu of Trinity Business School unveiled a new conceptual framework: Human-Technology Skill Complementarity. Moving beyond the familiar narratives of “substitution” or “augmentation,” the model frames the human–technology relationship as a dynamic learning partnership.

Instead of viewing technology as a static tool, the framework emphasises two-way synergy: humans evolve their skills through adapting to advanced technologies; technologies improve via continuous human input and feedback.

Professor Fu explained:

“As people adapt to new technologies, their own skills evolve, while these technologies ‘learn’ and improve through human input and feedback. This synergy is crucial for building more effective, adaptive, and inclusive workplaces.”

The model has clear, real-world implications across sectors:

• Healthcare: AI analyses large datasets to accelerate diagnoses, while clinicians provide empathy, expertise, and contextual judgement.

• Workplaces: AI automates routine tasks; humans focus on creativity, strategic decision-making, and interpersonal dynamics.

• Education: inspires new approaches to designing human–AI collaboration in teaching and learning.

The framework stems from research involving partners across Europe and beyond. By reframing technology as a collaborative teammate, the research offers a roadmap for organisations and policymakers seeking to build workplaces that are not just technologically advanced, but also inclusive, adaptive, and human-centred.