I am not sure if it’s something you like or not, but I like being held accountable. I like it when people follow me up, check in and ask me how I am going with something. It gets the best out of me, it keeps me on track and I know it makes me better at what I do.

Because of this I’ve deliberately surrounded myself with a team of people who guide me, challenge me, cheer me on and hold me to account. Some of these people I pay for their services and others are mentors, colleagues and friends who I deeply trust.

But lately I’ve noticed something I want to name, because I think it matters for all of us as leaders and people in positions of influence.

One or two members of my accountability crew have started sending me AI-generated follow-ups. You know the ones -perfectly worded, professionally structured and lacking anything personal or pertinent to me.

Now I am all for efficiency and using your time wisely, but when we take the human-ness out of it, it feels hollow. Like the effort is there, but the person isn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, I know they care – they’ve taken the time to send me a message or an email. But it just feels impersonal. Like I could be anyone on the list.

It turns out I am not alone in feeling this. Research shows that when people suspect a message was AI-generated, perceived sincerity drops from 83% to as low as 40%. A study published in PNAS found that people consistently feel more heard when they know a real human is behind the words – even when the message itself is identical. We can feel the difference. We just don’t always have the words for it.

AI is a brilliant tool and we should absolutely use it. But let’s not let efficiency quietly replace the moments that actually require us – the follow-up after a tough week, the check-in when someone is struggling, the message that says I was thinking about you specifically, not you as a name in a sequence.

And it’s got me wondering: is efficiency costing us connection?

If you think it is, here are three things that might be worth considering:

1. Let AI do the thinking, not the connecting. Use it to draft, prepare and remind you — then make it your own before you hit send.
2. Decide which moments are human-only. Not every touchpoint needs to be deeply personal, but some absolutely do. Know which ones those are and protect them.
3. Add something only you would know. One specific, personal detail is all it takes to signal that a real person showed up. That’s what people remember.

The goal isn’t to work harder. It’s to make sure that in the race toward efficiency, we don’t accidentally automate the things that make people feel like they matter.

Because they do.

As you head into next week, I’d encourage you to make sure your check-ins are human ones. And if you have this down pat, why not reach out to the leaders and influencers in your life and encourage them to do the same – because human connection is something worth protecting right now.

I trust this has got you thinking and been helpful in some way, shape or form.

Until next week, be well and lead well.

Kylie