The Human Capital Premium in the Synthetic Age a Longitudinal Analysis of Human Skill ROI, Organizational Stagility, and the Neurodiversity Performance Frontier (2025–2026)

The Human Capital Premium in the Synthetic Age a Longitudinal Analysis of Human Skill ROI, Organizational Stagility, and the Neurodiversity Performance Frontier (2025–2026)

Dr. Sally Saleh

Independent Researcher

Abstract
The economic landscape of 2025–2026 is increasingly characterized by a widening “GenAI Divide,” wherein substantial investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure fail to translate into commensurate business value. Despite global AI expenditures projected to exceed USD 1.5–2 trillion by 2026 [6], empirical evidence suggests that approximately 95% of organizations have not yet realized material Profit and Loss (P&L) impact from these investments [7]. This study investigates the concept of the Human Capital Premium as a critical mediating mechanism between AI adoption and value realization. Using a mixed-methods design supported by Monte Carlo–based SPSS simulation, the research examines (1) the return on investment (ROI) of human–AI augmentation, (2) the structural reconfiguration of middle management under automation pressure, and (3) neurodiversity as a strategic driver of innovation performance. Results shows that high-augmentation workflows are lined with a wage premium of approximately 56%, while neurodiverse team composition demonstrates more predictive power for innovation output than raw AI infrastructure spending. The study contributes a novel conceptual model of organizational stagility, reconciling the tension between stability and agility in AI-augmented orgnizations, and offers actionable implications for enterprise strategy, workforce design, and inclusion policy in the synthetic economy.