The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way teams communicate and collaborate, often without leaders realizing it. As AI-generated drafts become increasingly prevalent, the tone of messages can shift from person-to-person, creating distance between team members. When people rely heavily on AI to draft messages, they begin to filter information through assumptions rather than curiosity, leading to misinterpretations and misunderstandings.
The pace of technology is accelerating faster than human interpretation, resulting in a widening interpretation gap. This gap affects not only the quality of conversations at work but also erodes trust among team members. HR leaders must understand this phenomenon to address communication breakdowns that are becoming more frequent.
As teams try to balance efficiency and human connection, they are navigating two modes: fast, automated, and scalable versus thoughtful and empathetic. The slower, more reflective system used for emotional information processing can struggle to keep up with AI-accelerated timelines. This leads to people filtering information through assumptions rather than curiosity, filling in gaps with their own expectations instead of clarifying what someone meant.
Leaders can address this issue by acknowledging the shift in communication and encouraging teams to ask clarifying questions again. By slowing down decision points, strategy discussions, and early project planning, leaders set the expectation for deliberate conversation, supporting both performance and trust. Investing in training that helps employees understand how perception shapes collaboration is critical, as building a culture of curiosity reduces friction and keeps teams connected.
To strengthen team dynamics rather than eroding trust, organizations should create norms around AI usage in communication. Some teams share when drafts were AI-assisted, while others agree on when to use AI for brainstorming and when to rely on live discussion. By investing in these skills, leaders can build environments where AI enhances human capability.
The next phase of AI at work will be deeply relational, with teams collaborating with AI tools the way they collaborate with colleagues. To prepare for this shift, organizations must develop new habits, communication norms, and a deeper understanding of how people interpret signals from both technology and each other. By doing so, they can create workplaces where AI accelerates insight rather than eroding trust. Ultimately, leaders who prioritize the interpersonal side of AI will strengthen relationships that hold teams together and help employees make sense of a rapidly changing world.
The pace of technology is accelerating faster than human interpretation, resulting in a widening interpretation gap. This gap affects not only the quality of conversations at work but also erodes trust among team members. HR leaders must understand this phenomenon to address communication breakdowns that are becoming more frequent.
As teams try to balance efficiency and human connection, they are navigating two modes: fast, automated, and scalable versus thoughtful and empathetic. The slower, more reflective system used for emotional information processing can struggle to keep up with AI-accelerated timelines. This leads to people filtering information through assumptions rather than curiosity, filling in gaps with their own expectations instead of clarifying what someone meant.
Leaders can address this issue by acknowledging the shift in communication and encouraging teams to ask clarifying questions again. By slowing down decision points, strategy discussions, and early project planning, leaders set the expectation for deliberate conversation, supporting both performance and trust. Investing in training that helps employees understand how perception shapes collaboration is critical, as building a culture of curiosity reduces friction and keeps teams connected.
To strengthen team dynamics rather than eroding trust, organizations should create norms around AI usage in communication. Some teams share when drafts were AI-assisted, while others agree on when to use AI for brainstorming and when to rely on live discussion. By investing in these skills, leaders can build environments where AI enhances human capability.
The next phase of AI at work will be deeply relational, with teams collaborating with AI tools the way they collaborate with colleagues. To prepare for this shift, organizations must develop new habits, communication norms, and a deeper understanding of how people interpret signals from both technology and each other. By doing so, they can create workplaces where AI accelerates insight rather than eroding trust. Ultimately, leaders who prioritize the interpersonal side of AI will strengthen relationships that hold teams together and help employees make sense of a rapidly changing world.
. It's cool that we can get drafts done faster and all, but is it worth losing that personal touch in our conversations? I mean, think about it - when you're drafting a message on your own, you can add that little bit of personality that makes it more human. But with AI, it just feels so... robotic 
. And yeah, I've noticed how easily miscommunications happen now that everyone's relying on those drafts. It's like we're filtering out the good stuff and just picking up what we want to hear 
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. And honestly, I'm not sure sharing when drafts were AI-assisted or not is going to fix everything 
. Can't we just have a conversation about how we want to use these tools and make sure they're working for us, not against us?
. It's ironic that technology designed to streamline processes can inadvertently create distance between team members 
. The pace at which AI can process information is indeed accelerating, but so are the misunderstandings and miscommunications that arise from it 
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. By doing so, we can create a culture of curiosity and collaboration, rather than relying on assumptions and expectations 
. Investing in training programs that help employees understand how perception shapes collaboration is crucial 
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. That can't be good for team trust or anything. 
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it's like we're already losing that human touch in our conversations, right? and it's not just about getting things done quickly, but also about making sure we're actually understanding each other 
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Now it's all about those AI-generated drafts, and it feels like people are losing the art of having a proper conversation 
. I think leaders need to step in and remind their teams that, yeah, AI is cool and all, but human connection is what really matters 
. We should be investing more time into training people on how to communicate effectively instead of just relying on technology to do it for us 
. And yeah, I agree that teams need to find a balance between efficiency and empathy... it's like, we can't just rush through conversations without making sure we're connecting with each other 
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I swear, every time we use those AI drafting tools, it's like the conversation just gets lost in translation 
People are so caught up in getting their thoughts down quickly that they forget to actually listen and understand each other 
But no one ever listens 
. I've been thinking we should start a convo about how to best use these new tools without losing our humanity... What do you guys think? Should we start a doc 
It's like tryin' to have a convo with Siri - just not the same 
Need leaders to slow down decision points & encourage curious convo