Editorial
The first time I received a Slack message that didn’t sound like the person who sent it, I shrugged it off. Maybe they were just busy. Maybe they were trying to sound more professional.
But then it kept happening.
The wording was too crisp. The tone, oddly neutral. And then I started seeing the same phrasing across different teammates. I realized: This wasn’t just a new writing style. It was AI.
As tools such as GrammarlyGO, Notion AI and even Slack’s own AI features become part of how we communicate at work, the line between human and machine voice is blurring.
Companies such as PwC are leaning into the shift and rolling out generative AI tools across tens of thousands of employees. In 2023, PwC announced a $1 billion investment in AI over three years to embed generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, throughout its U.S. operations. By mid-2024, the firm had deployed AI-driven capabilities to more than 75,000 employees. These tools support a wide range of tasks, including drafting reports, writing client communications, generating code and analyzing data. PwC views this adoption as a strategic capability that makes its employees more productive and strengthens its consulting and audit services.
On the surface, it’s all about productivity: faster messages, clearer summaries, fewer awkward typos. But something deeper is shifting, too. When every update sounds vaguely the same, what happens to trust?
Is Workplace Communication Turning Into Prompt Engineering?
In theory, AI makes us better communicators. It cleans up our grammar, organizes our thoughts and makes sure we don’t forget that key bullet point. For remote and hybrid teams, where Slack threads and Zoom chats carry the bulk of our relationships, AI-assisted writing feels like a win.
It’s easy to see the appeal. You’re swamped with tasks and need to send a weekly update. Why not ask your AI assistant to draft it? It’s articulate, structured and polished, everything your tired brain isn’t at 5:42 p.m.
But then, so is everyone else’s message.
A weekly update that once hinted at your colleague’s dry humor or frustration is now perfectly neutral. Status check-ins lose their flavor. Even praise — “Great job on that deck!” — starts to sound suspiciously uniform.
When AI-Drafted Authenticity Slips
This shift toward AI-generated communication is subtle but pervasive. It starts with a few auto-suggestions. Then full drafts. Eventually, teams start to write in the same flattened tone, polished by the same invisible hand. The result: Communication is easier, but less revealing.
Trust is built on small signals. Typos, slang, weird punctuation — all of these human touches give us clues about a person’s mood, intent and authenticity. When those signals are stripped away, we’re left guessing.
I spoke with a product manager at a fintech startup who put it this way: “I used to know when my teammate was stressed just by how short their messages were. Now, with AI drafting, every note sounds calm and collected, even when I know things are on fire.”
It’s not just about style. When we can’t tell who’s actually writing, we start to question what’s real. Did my manager really mean that feedback, or did ChatGPT write it? Is this proposal their idea, or a synthesis of other ideas spit out by a bot?
Is AI-Generated Efficiency Worth It?
There’s no doubt that AI boosts efficiency. It helps non-native speakers communicate more clearly. It shortens meetings by summarizing transcripts. It keeps work flowing even when people are tired or distracted.
But as we outsource more of our voice to AI, we risk becoming less present. Communication becomes transactional, not relational.
A senior HR leader at a Fortune 500 company I spoke with shared that her team recently introduced AI-generated onboarding messages to new hires. “It saved us time,” she said. “But we also noticed that new employees felt less connected. They weren’t sure who was really behind the welcome messages.”
Connection is messy and time-consuming. It’s also what makes work feel human.
Keeping the Human in the Loop
So, how do we keep authenticity alive in an AI-mediated workplace? The answer isn’t to ban AI. That’s neither practical nor desirable. These tools can be incredibly helpful, especially for leveling the playing field. But we do need to be intentional.
One simple step: disclose when you use AI. It doesn’t have to be formal, just a quick, “Used ChatGPT to help me outline this” can go a long way. Transparency builds trust.
Another tactic is to reintroduce friction. Not everything needs to be optimized. Maybe you write your one-on-ones by hand. Maybe you leave the typos in your Slack message if it means sounding like you.
Leaders can model this, too. AI might make your town hall remarks smoother, but a little spontaneity reminds your team there’s a person behind the words.
Finally, prioritize synchronous connection. AI can’t replace real-time conversation, where tone, nuance and trust are built in the moment. Zoom fatigue is real, but connection fatigue can be just as draining, especially when every interaction feels overly polished and performative.
We’re entering a new phase of workplace literacy. Just as email reshaped how we communicate, AI is rewriting the rules again. Being literate in this context means knowing when to use AI, and when to let your voice, with all its quirks and imperfections, shine through.
Because in the end, trust isn’t built on perfect messages. It’s built on real ones.
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Editor's Note: Read more thoughts on how AI is influencing our behavior in the workplace:
- The Quiet Politics of Admitting AI Use — AI use in the workplace is on the rise, yet few admit to using it. What can organizations do?
- Klarna Claimed AI Was Doing the Work of 700 People. Now It's Rehiring — Klarna has some good company: over 55% of organizations that executed AI-driven layoffs now regret it. Tips on how to avoid the regrets.
- When AI Starts Lying, Leaders Must Pay Attention — AI deception demands cross-functional leadership. It can no longer be an IT initiative; it is a strategic, cultural and ethical endeavor.
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