Balancing human connection and AI: Elevate Online 2025's Panel

AI in the workplace is advancing faster than most of us imagined. Every week brings a new tool or breakthrough that promises to reshape how we work.

But there’s a catch: as technology accelerates, human connection can fade. The same tools that make us faster can make our interactions feel transactional.

This is the paradox of modern work: how do we embrace AI without losing our humanity?

It’s one of the questions we answer through Elevate On Demand, our on demand library offering top sessions from industry-leading experts. In a special roundtable session, leaders from monday.com, IBM, LinkedIn, and Microsoft come together to explore how top organizations are balancing the latest technology with the timeless need for belonging.

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The challenge: Efficiency vs. belonging

AI seems like it’s everywhere in the workplace. But its rapid adoption raises an uncomfortable truth: connection doesn’t scale as easily as efficiency.

Over-automation risks culture. When processes are fully automated, opportunities for casual conversation, mentorship, and recognition can disappear.
Relationships can feel transactional. If every interaction is filtered through a tool, people may start to feel like data points instead of colleagues.
Hybrid work adds distance. Even the most advanced collaboration platforms can’t fully replace the energy of in-person connection.

The tension is clear: efficiency is easy to measure, but connection is not. Leaders can see output rising, yet at the same time they notice teams feeling less present, less engaged, and less tied to each other. That gap — between productivity and belonging — is where the real risk lies.

The opportunity: AI as an enabler of connection

But here’s the exciting part: AI doesn’t have to pull us apart — it can bring us closer together.

When used thoughtfully, AI can actually create the conditions for deeper connection.

Freeing up time. By handling repetitive, low-value tasks — like scheduling, data entry, or reporting — AI gives people more bandwidth for creative problem-solving and collaboration.
Elevating conversations. Managers can spend less time buried in admin work and more time having meaningful discussions with their teams, coaching, giving feedback, and recognizing achievements.
Strengthening belonging. By integrating AI tools into workflows in a way that supports human interaction, organizations can actually reinforce culture instead of weakening it.

Imagine a weekly team meeting where an AI assistant automatically generates insights from project data. Instead of wasting time compiling reports, the team can jump straight into discussing outcomes, challenges, and creative solutions. The technology clears the way for richer conversation — not less.

Make AI your team’s superpower

Expert POV: A preview of the panel at Elevate 2025

In this Elevate On Demand session, balancing human connection with AI takes center stage.

Panelists Olga Lykova, Head of Partnerships, North America at monday.com; Corrine Sklar, VP & Managing Director, Salesforce at IBM; Leah Smart, Senior Editor at LinkedIn, Jessica Kowalski will, GM, Data & AI Transformation at Microsoft will share how they’re approaching this balance inside some of the world’s most influential organizations.

You’ll hear:

How to keep connections authentic as workflows become more automated.
Practical strategies for prioritizing belonging alongside innovation.
Real-world examples of how AI can support — not replace — human relationships at work.

This isn’t another abstract conversation about “the future of AI.” Instead, expect concrete stories, lessons learned, and practical takeaways you can apply immediately.

Actionable insights for leaders

While the panel will dive deep, here are three starting points you can put into practice today:

Set guardrails. Decide which moments will always remain human-first. Feedback conversations, recognition, and conflict resolution should never be left entirely to technology.
Audit automation. Take regular inventory of the tools you’re using. Ask whether they are supporting genuine connection — or unintentionally replacing it.
Double down on rituals. Pair every new technology adoption with cultural practices. Team huddles, end-of-week wins, or peer recognition programs can reinforce belonging even as new tools change how you work.

These steps help leaders create a foundation for the future of work where AI accelerates efficiency without sacrificing empathy.

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