Almost every company I work with is focused on using AI to drive productivity and efficiency. They’re starting to see real gains, and that’s generating excitement about the future potential of AI. However, AI used to drive efficiency is just the starting point, and there is a real risk if we stop there. In my work with Fortune 500 leaders across the C-suite, from chief human resources officers (CHROs) to CTOs and CMOs, I’ve seen top organizations recognize a bigger opportunity: using AI to help managers build connection and trust with their teams. Companies that are able to leverage AI to drive efficiency and create highly motivated teams will be the ones that come out ahead.
If you only use AI for productivity, you are at risk
AI is transforming work, and nearly every company I speak to is applying it to increase productivity, from automating tasks to optimizing workflows and scaling outputs like coding and design.
However, if we think of AI only as a tool for efficiency and cost reduction, we are missing the bigger picture. Worse, we risk widening the trust gap that already exists in so many workplaces.
The data is surprising. A recent Upwork survey of 2,500 global workers, including 1,250 C-suite executives, found that 67% of top AI performers said they trust AI more than their colleagues, and 64% said they have a better relationship with AI than their teammates. There is a real risk present in those statements.
After all, even with increased use of AI, humans still have to work together to get things done. If we don’t trust each other, the efficiency gains from AI can be lost as organizations become trapped in conflict, gossip, and fear—hallmarks of low-trust business cultures.
So the question for every executive is: How do we equip the next generation of managers to use AI in the service of connection? Here are three powerful ways.
1. AI as leadership memory
The best managers I’ve seen not only lead, they remember. They notice the way people prefer feedback, create a spark by recognizing people in a unique way, and remember those personal details that tell someone they’re not just a “cog in the wheel.” These moments of recognition generate trust and loyalty.
But today’s leaders are stretched thin. The teams are bigger, the hierarchies are flatter, and we simply can’t keep all that in our heads. As a leader, I often struggle to remember every detail of how each person on my team prefers to work or communicate. And every coach I’ve coached has felt the same, because it’s hard to stay personal when you’re juggling so many things. That’s where AI comes in to reinforce what you already know how to do best.
Imagine that before a one-on-one meeting, your AI leadership memory gently reminds you that your direct report prefers written feedback over verbal feedback, or that the last time you spoke, you mentioned your son’s soccer tournament. It can give you a nudge with thoughtful opening lines and maybe even help you formulate a difficult message so it comes across in the best way possible. That doesn’t replace the personal touch, but rather allows you to scale. Leaders can use tools like Rising Team, which automatically pull in information that colleagues have shared, or manually upload materials (such as personality assessments) that their team members have chosen to share. That way, the AI can reveal those details when they are useful, without needing to use any private information. AI helps you remember what matters, when it matters.
2. AI as your training partner
Some of the most meaningful moments in people’s careers come from the most difficult conversations. Great leaders can provide constructive feedback that helps people grow, diffuse conflict in a way that builds trust, and help teams be resilient in the midst of significant challenges. Many managers simply freeze or improvise in conversations like this, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how to approach them and don’t have a way to practice. And today, HR business partners can’t be there for every one of those moments.
What if you could practice and have your team? real dynamics baked? I have seen these things change dramatically.
Role-play with AI tailored to your specific engineer who needs time to process, or your marketer who craves hard-hitting feedback – that’s when AI coaching comes into its own. realactionable preparation. By practicing with a tool that knows its people, managers show themselves with clarity, empathy and confidence.
3. AI as a generator of team experiences
Connection doesn’t just happen one-on-one. Teams build trust and alignment through shared experiences, whether it’s learning a critical skill, tackling a big strategy change, or building insights into how to work together as a team. But creating and facilitating those sessions takes time and expertise, and most managers don’t have the time or support to do them well.
This is where AI can help. Think of it as working with a facilitation professional: someone who knows the theory and context of your team. It can include warm-ups, activity ideas, reflective questions, and even capture what people say, track who’s involved, and reveal next steps. With the help of AI, managers are now able to bring their teams together to build trust and connection in synchronous experiences that were previously too difficult or costly.
As an executive, imagine implementing a new business initiative or framework. Instead of relying on top-down slides and presentations, AI can now help your managers lead team sessions with thoughtful prompts, collaborative exercises, and clear action plans. This ensures that experiences across the organization are consistent, measurable and engaging.
Beyond Productivity: Building a System for Connected Leadership
AI is often described as a catalyst for productivity. And yes, it’s great for that, but I think the real frontier is AI as a force for driving connection: a leadership system for modern teams.
Because the future is not about choosing between AI or humanity. It’s about how we use AI to amplify our humanity and build teams that are not only productive, but also highly trusting, resilient, and great at achieving results together.