The Ironic Effect of AI on Work
Something funny is happening as AI takes over more of our work.
It's like Newton's third law playing out in our organizations: for every advance in AI's ability to simulate human interaction, there's an equal and opposite increase in the value of real human connection.
Here's what I mean:
Our work lives are increasingly AI-powered. It writes our emails, predicts our needs, and automates our decisions. But the more AI spreads, the more obvious something becomes: you can't automate everything. And the parts you can't automate? They're becoming surprisingly precious.
Look at what's happening:
AI generates thousands of "personal" messages daily
Every interaction with a company starts with a chatbot
Our tools constantly suggest our next move
But here's the ironic part:
Instead of making human connection less important, all this automation is making it more valuable. It's like watching a see-saw - as AI rises on one side, the value of real human interaction rises on the other.
This isn't revolutionary. It's just interesting to watch unfold.
The pattern shows up clearest in how teams work together. The organizations getting it right aren't the ones with the most AI tools. They're the ones creating intentional space for humans to:
Solve problems together in workshops
Build understanding through real conversation
Think collectively in structured sessions
These practices - setting aside time to work through challenges together, creating space for genuine collaboration, facilitating group problem-solving - aren't new. They're just becoming more obviously valuable as everything else gets automated.
Here's what I find fascinating:
In our excitement to automate everything possible, we're accidentally highlighting the importance of what can't be automated. Those moments when teams come together, tackle complex challenges, and build real understanding - they stand out more clearly now against the backdrop of our AI-powered world.
It's a simple reminder: use AI for what it's good at. But don't forget to invest in creating space for humans to work together. Because that's becoming more valuable, not less.
