I recently exchanged emails with a growth lead at a startup. His messages were clean, professional, and perfectly structured. I used AI to craft my replies—polished, persuasive, on point. For a few rounds, it felt like two well-oiled machines talking. Efficient. Clear. A little… hollow.
Then we hopped on a call.
Within minutes, the vibe shifted. We laughed at a clumsy joke. Heard the pause before a real answer. Felt the sincerity—or hesitation—in each other’s voice. It was human again.
That got me thinking.
Today, I came across a tweet about companies using AI to conduct early-stage interviews. My first reaction? Fair enough. If companies use AI to screen candidates, why shouldn’t candidates use AI to prep, polish, and maybe even respond?
But then the question deepened.
What if we extend this beyond interviews?
What if AI speaks for us not just in business negotiations, but in dating? In asking for a favor? In persuading a friend? In any delicate moment where we want to be convincing—but also real?
We’d optimize tone. Remove friction. Maximize persuasion.
But we’d also remove the stumbles, the vulnerability, the unscripted honesty that makes a connection meaningful.
I’m not against AI as a tool. It can help us articulate ideas, save time, and reduce miscommunication. But when both sides are optimized—when communication becomes AI talking to AI—what remains of the human in the exchange?
Efficiency at the cost of authenticity? Clarity at the expense of character?
In code, we refactor for performance. In communication, I wonder: are we optimizing away the very things that build trust?
So, I’ll leave it to you: Where should AI stop speaking for us?
Have you ever felt the “gap” between an AI-crafted message and a real human moment?
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