The Future of Work: AI in the Workplace and Why Culture & Human Connection Matter

The AI Paradox

There’s no doubt that AI has taken the world by storm. For many of us, the speed of its evolution is dizzying. Every day brings a new tool promising faster, better, more efficient ways of working - and to be fair, the impact has been remarkable. From work products to health tech to design, the advancements are impossible to ignore.

But I keep coming back to one question:

How do we make sure the human doesn’t disappear in this AI revolution?

It’s starting to feel like we’re optimizing everything… except how we communicate and connect with each other.

Technology shaping our lives isn’t new. I’ve been thinking about this since the early days of smartphones and social media—watching both the benefits and the trade-offs unfold. Then COVID hit, and everything accelerated. Office interactions shifted overnight. Casual conversations disappeared. Connection became something we had to schedule—and often, it didn’t happen at all.

Technology has already reduced how often we naturally connect. Now, with AI, that shift is accelerating even further.

What “Losing the Human” Actually Looks Like

Organizations are now relying on AI more than ever, and some troubling realities are starting to surface.

I spoke to an executive who runs a health tech venture capital firm, and he shared that his company has replaced full-time leadership positions with AI bots. This means that instead of a human VP of Marketing, that position on the org chart is now taken by an AI avatar of that person. He told me they can even communicate with it through Teams as if it were an actual human.

Just take that in for a second…

On one hand, this is incredibly impressive. However, the unfortunate reality is that a human will most likely never occupy that role again. This executive also said that even his job could eventually be taken by a bot. I asked him what he would do after that. He smiled and said, “Retire.” Then I asked him what the 35-year-old will do after the bot has taken their job…

That one was harder for him to answer.

In 2025, AI was cited as a reason a significant percentage of workers were losing their jobs. Large companies such as Salesforce, IBM, and Klarna have already replaced thousands of roles with AI, and tens of thousands of people have been laid off due to automation.

The human is what gets removed as bots replace more and more jobs. This is one of the main reasons we created the VIBE Culture Program™ - to keep the human in the workplace by focusing on connection, communication, and community.

The Gaps that AI Can’t Fill – And How the VIBE Culture Program™ Solves That Dilemma

No doubt that AI can be a powerful tool that can contribute positively to our organizations. It has for my company! However, it is missing something fundamental – the human gifts that no bot can replace. It surrounds our four core pillars of the VIBE Culture Program™ - Value, Integrity, Belonging, and Empowerment.

Value

There is no question that AI brings value to our companies. It can increase efficiency and improve output. But it lacks authentic human value. For example, ChatGPT can mimic affirmations or recognition when prompted. It can say things like, “That’s a great question!” But it’s not actually valuing you. It’s reflecting language a human might use. Being truly valued, and valuing someone else, is a uniquely human experience.

When we recognize people for their contributions, their efforts, and their thinking, it has a real impact. Most people don’t just want to be efficient… they want to matter. They want to know they are making a difference. And when people feel valued, they become more invested in the success of the organization.

Integrity

Integrity is the commitment of someone to do the right thing, even when no one is watching. It means following through, caring about the work product that is being presented, and ensuring that relationships are intact. So, does AI have integrity…?

The short answer is No. AI is dependable, but it doesn’t have integrity.  It may follow through on tasks, but it’s only doing that because a human has programmed that into it. Integrity is a uniquely human trait. It requires caring, honesty, and communication. AI doesn’t have a conscience. It just has code.

Belonging

Belonging is, in short, a knowing that you are accepted for who you are authentically. It’s the knowing that - regardless of your quirks, background, or identity - you have a place at the table. This is a uniquely human experience. This collaboration and acceptance are something that AI cannot achieve on its own. It doesn’t have a heart. It can aid in work product collaboration, but that isn’t what I’m talking about here. What I am pointing to is the magic that happens when people feel that their contribution matters, that their voice counts, and their ideas are welcome.

There is no way that AI can achieve this from an authentic and integral place. Belonging is something that we all need in our lives. If belonging is absent, there is a palpable missing in our lives. We must know that we matter and that we count. This is something that requires humans to engage in.

Empowerment

Empowerment is an interesting one to compare human vs AI. It’s true that AI has the programming to acknowledge and validate our thoughts, as I mentioned above. It does a pretty good job at saying all the things that we would want to hear, but that is only one-half of empowerment.

True empowerment shows up when things are hard, like when someone makes a mistake or faces a challenge. It’s when leaders and colleagues step in to guide, support, and help someone grow. The encouragement in difficult times is something that humans do because they care, understand, and have a vested interest in our growth. Empowerment is how we learn and grow personally and as a community. We must know that in spite of our mistakes, we still matter and can overcome the obstacles that are put in our path. True empowerment is human through-and-through.

Keeping it Human

Keeping humans present in the AI revolution is incredibly important. It can help us to stay grounded and connected to this Earth and the communities that we are in. There is no doubt that AI is here to stay, but the key is for leaders and organizations to care enough to ensure we don’t disappear.

Written by Kelli Oberndorf