AI overreliance at work risks eroding people skills, expert warns
Protocol School of Washington President Pamela Eyring explains why growing reliance on AI could weaken communication and relationship-building skills that remain critical to winning clients and closing deals.
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in the workplace, companies may be overlooking another skill set that could increasingly separate successful employees from the pack: the ability to communicate, listen, disagree and build relationships with actual people.
Pamela Eyring, president of the Protocol School of Washington, told Fox Business that employers increasingly need workers who can use AI effectively without allowing their interpersonal skills to deteriorate.
According to Eyring, people need to focus on what she calls “power skills.”
“These are essential skills that we need as human beings in business,” she said.
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As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in the workplace, Eyring warned that employees shouldn’t allow the technology to replace communication and relationship-building skills. (Napong Rattanaraktiya/Getty Images / Getty Images)
As a variety of AI platforms continue to expand, Eyring argued that the technology’s convenience makes it tempting for workers to turn to a chatbot over another person.
And while users may get instant gratification, quick answers and — importantly — less pushback than they might receive from a colleague, Eyring warned that convenience could come at a personal cost.
“It doesn’t dispute us. It’s so nice to us, it’s so good. ‘Oh, that’s a great idea, Pamela, let’s do that.’ And sometimes your ideas aren’t good. That’s why I’m afraid we’re gonna lose our people skills and, more importantly, our relationships,” Eyring said.
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Protocol School of Washington President Pamela Eyring told FOX Business that workers need to maintain strong interpersonal skills as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in the workplace. (FOX Business)
Although many employers may expect their employees to be proficient with AI and other emerging technologies, that alone doesn’t prepare someone to present an idea, read a room, negotiate or develop a client relationship.
“They want you to be smart with AI, but they also want you to be able to close a billion, a multibillion-dollar deal,” Eyring said.
Eyring said technical expertise alone may not be enough when employees are expected to advise clients, build relationships and communicate the experience they’ve accumulated over their careers.
She said she and her clients have encountered job applicants who apparently relied too heavily on AI when preparing application materials.
“We laugh and tell stories about how, you know, the AI created a great resume, and it has still brackets, you know, ‘Fill in the blank here,'” Eyring said.
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