Are You A.I.?

Recently, a client shared a frustrating experience.

She had reached out to a colleague with a specific concern and received a response that completely missed the point. The reply stretched across three pages, yet the issue at hand could have been addressed in two thoughtful sentences.

As she read through it, something became clear. The response wasn’t simply long—it felt disconnected. Rather than addressing her concern, it came across as defensive, impersonal, and more concerned with explaining than understanding.

Whether it was generated entirely by AI or heavily assisted by it wasn’t really the issue.

The real issue was that the response didn’t feel human. Now, my client realizes that this has become chronic with her colleague, and other execs in the firm are also noticing this behavior. Therefore, his reputation is now suspect due to these insecure acts.

AI is an extraordinary tool. It can gather information, organize ideas, and produce remarkably polished content in seconds. But AI doesn’t know the person sitting on the other side of the conversation. It doesn’t understand the history, emotions, motivations, or nuances that shape every human interaction.

That’s still our job.

The most effective communication has never been about producing the longest or most comprehensive response. It’s about connecting with the person receiving it. It’s about understanding what matters most to them and responding in a way that demonstrates you’ve truly heard them.

As AI becomes increasingly woven into our daily work, the challenge isn’t whether we use it. The challenge is whether we allow it to replace our judgment, empathy, and authenticity.

Before hitting “send,” consider these four questions:

What matters most to this person?
Have I synthesized this information to genuinely address their concern?
Does this sound like me?
Am I proud of this response?
AI can help us communicate.

Only we can make our communication meaningful.