When the Humans Start to Disappear
“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” - Christian Lous Lange
What are we losing when ease and efficiency replace human interaction?
It started with a chatbot on the website. Then, a new scheduling tool that “saves time” by removing the need for back-and-forth emails. Then, a meeting recap tool that summarizes your call without you needing to be there.
Little by little, more and more we are noticing: our work lives are growing quieter, yet not necessarily calmer.
Lately, I’ve been in conversations with clients who feel the change. They’re receiving fewer emails, fielding fewer drop-in questions, having fewer spontaneous hallway chats or message pings. Yet, paradoxically, they’re feeling more strained, not less. Something’s missing, and it’s not just the noise.
Our workplaces are not just places of task execution. They are also places of meaning-making. Our interactions, however brief or seemingly mundane, are part of how we come to feel seen, valued, and engaged.
So what happens when those moments are optimized out?
AI and automation can offer real value. They can ease administrative burdens and make room for deeper work. Yet, when key human touchpoints are removed, onboarding, check-ins, support requests, even feedback loops, the result can be relational erosion. People may begin to wonder: Do I matter here? Would anyone notice if I weren’t around?
Efficiency should serve connection, not replace it.
So, what can we do?
You might try:
Reintroducing intentional human pauses. Even a 2-minute voice note or spontaneous message can recreate connection in an increasingly asynchronous world.
Making space for nuance. AI can summarize facts; it can’t sense tone shifts, unspoken concerns, or early signs of disengagement.
Checking for understanding, not just output. Ask: “What’s feeling clear? What isn’t?” Algorithms can’t prompt that kind of reflection, however you can.
Technology can enhance our work. It can’t be our work. The presence of people, seen, acknowledged, invited to contribute, is still where the heartbeat of work lives.
With understanding,
Maria
