Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept in the workplace—it’s here, in your inbox, your Slack threads, your pitch decks, and maybe even this sentence. (Maybe not.) As tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI become fixtures in professional communication, the question isn’t whether we can use AI to write emails, memos, and marketing materials—it’s how we should.
Some professionals embrace AI’s clarity, speed, and structure. Others worry it dulls the edge of human expression and erodes long-term writing skills. Still others see nuance: a tool that enhances—but should not replace—authentic communication. From CEOs and marketers to writers and attorneys, we asked eight thought leaders how they use AI in their day-to-day communication and whether they believe it’s improving—or undermining—the way we connect at work.
AI Harms Writing Skills Despite Workplace Benefits
Personally, I despise using AI generated content, because I think that over time it harms my ability to write passionately and persuasively. That said, for most people it’s a dramatic improvement to their writing style, so in aggregate, it may be improving workplace communication for the receiver. For the sender, it can be all too easy to forget what the AI wrote for you, so it actually worsens your communication skills in the next meeting.
I sometimes use it to create outlines, the bare bones of pitch deck slides, and first drafts of content if I’m stuck with a blank page problem (a common problem for people with ADHD). But I never send anything out that’s written by AI – it’s just a starting point for me to get going.
(And yes, I recognize the irony of my opinion as someone who owns and operates an AI resume builder.)
Colin McIntosh, Founder, Sheets AI Resume Builder
AI Enhances Internal Communication, Human Touch Prevails
At Green Lion Search, we’ve found meaningful ways to integrate AI into our internal workflows — primarily to streamline and clarify communication. One of the most effective use cases has been summarizing meetings or lengthy internal conversations. By feeding notes into ChatGPT, we can quickly generate concise, actionable summaries. It’s just as valuable for individual employees, helping them distill ideas after brainstorming sessions or highlight key takeaways from extended client calls.
These internal applications work well because they rely on content generated by humans: AI is simply enhancing clarity, not replacing the message.
However, when it comes to external-facing copy, such as client emails, social media captions, or marketing content, we still find that a human touch resonates best. Once our thoughts are organized, it’s easier to craft copy that feels personal, authentic, and aligned with our brand voice.
In short, AI has absolutely been a benefit to our business, but its effectiveness depends on thoughtful implementation. It’s about using it intentionally, where it truly adds value.
Michael Moran, Owner and President, Green Lion Search
AI Communication Tools: Helpful Yet Potentially Limiting
I don’t mind receiving AI-generated messages from colleagues or clients, but I do think there’s a tendency for some people to lean on the technology a bit too much. I see real value in using AI for things like marketing emails, web content, or other scalable communications, and I use it often in those contexts myself. Where I think it’s less helpful, or even counterproductive, is in everyday workplace communication.
To me, the main benefits of using AI tools are speed and polish. They can generate content quickly and serve as built-in editors, catching grammar mistakes and refining tone and structure with minimal effort. That’s particularly useful when you’re under a deadline or working on external-facing materials. But when it comes to things like team emails or internal Slack messages, I don’t think that level of polish is always necessary. In fact, over-relying on AI for basic communication can make messages feel overly formal, impersonal, or generic.
Overall, I’d say AI has had a neutral impact on workplace communication so far. It helps some people express themselves more clearly and efficiently, which is great. But it can also lead to overuse, where people stop developing their own communication skills and become overly dependent on the tool. That kind of reliance, in the long run, could make them less effective communicators.
Archie Payne, Co-Founder & President, CalTek Staffing
Balance AI Efficiency With Essential Human Connection
I think that AI offers a lot of promise in the workplace as a way to be more productive and communicate better, but we need to maintain the human touch. As for AI-generated emails and messages from colleagues, staff, or clients, I’m down with that if the message is clear, relevant, and personalized. I think AI can assist in drafting rote communications, but it should not substitute for the human interaction that is necessary to develop the relationships you need with clients and colleagues.
I do rely on AI to assist me in writing or rewriting emails or memos when I need to streamline information or add clarity. AI tools can be great for preparing that first email or even scripting some messaging that will save you time while not sacrificing quality. For example, I leverage AI to blur out quick drafts on routine internal updates or to polish existing client-facing copy. But I take care to personalize and review output before I hit Send; the message will still retain its tone and meaning.
I even use AI for my content creation, like pitch decks, sales materials, and website content. AI is great for spewing out rough drafts or thoughts that will allow you to save some time during the creative stage. But I don’t want to depend entirely on AI for final versions of these materials, because I want to contribute my vision, voice, and strategic insights to them. My Slack messages are a bit more informal and colloquial, but I’ve tried to reach out to AI-generated ideas when writing up quick replies or framing structured thoughts.
I do think that AI is a great opener of communication in general (when done right). It’s improving workplace communication right now, but just wait until we do it so often that it makes that communication feel impersonal. It’s a fine line between efficiency and humanness, between keeping AI in its lane and preserving the human judgment and personal touch that still powers the core of communication.
Arsen Misakyan, CEO and Founder, Angel City Limo
Lawyer Leverages AI for Expert Legal Content
I am a high volume Massachusetts divorce lawyer and mediator with a top ranking website. My website IS my business. If I don’t rank in Google search, I have no business.
I have recently begun to use AI to create the first drafts of blog posts about various family law topics, e.g. “Is Divorce Mediation Fair to Women” and “Social Security in Divorce”.
The quality of the AI first draft is directly linked to the specificity and quality of the instructions I give it. Besides telling ChatGPT generic parameters–that it’s a blog post of 900 words and it should have H2 headings that match common search queries about Divorce Mediation–I give it specific sources to mine, and I tell it the overall conclusion of the post.
For my most recent post, I told it to use these three academic articles as sources: “The blog post should refer specifically to scholarship in these three articles: 1) The Mediation Alternative: Process Dangers for Women by Tina Grillo 2) Killing Us Softly: Divorce Mediation and the Politics of Power by Penelope Bryan and 3) Does Mediation Systematically Disadvantage Women? by Margaret Brinig. It should give academic citations for the articles.”
I also told it to make this the main point of the post: “The post should argue for the importance of an active (evaluative) mediator to level the playing field between men and women because of differences in conversational style, relational style, and negotiating style between men and women.”
ChatGPT did an incredible job on a first draft. I went through the draft, using my specialized expertise to fine tune it, changing about 15% of the content. Potential clients get a clearly written, thoughtful blog post based on my expertise and what researchers have said about the topic.
Julia Rueschemeyer, Attorney, Attorney Julia Rueschemeyer Divorce Mediation
AI Saves Time While Personal Touch Matters
AI emails or AI-driven messages can be a very smart tool for maintaining a level of consistency and efficiency in communication. I’m open to receiving AI-generated emails if they can retain a human touch and are within the context of the conversation. I think that the time AI can save on routine communication or preparing texts enables more time to be spent on high-value tasks, by allowing for more seamless repetitive actions to be faster and less cumbersome. But there’s still something about the personal touch in messages that sounds like the sender.
I do use AI for email writing and rewriting, specifically for client inquiries and interoffice memos. For example, when I’m coming up with sales materials or website content, I use AI to produce the first drafts, as it makes the writing process faster. And, like in all cases of AI-generated content, I always massage the output to ensure it feels right and hits the right nuances. For sales presentations or pitch decks, AI helps to structure content and communicate key points, but the human touch is never removed; I utilize my unique perspective and industry expertise.
Rob Dillan, Founder, EVhype.com
Edit AI Drafts or Risk Cold Communication
I use AI to draft and rewrite emails, memos, and internal content—but I always edit before sending. It helps with speed and structure, especially when I’m juggling priorities. That said, I can spot a raw AI message a mile away. Used well, AI sharpens communication. Used lazily, it makes it colder and easier to ignore.
Girish Manglani, CEO & Co-Founder, ezcards.io
AI Works Best as Partner, Not Replacement
I’m writing about using AI in the day-to-day workplace. How do you feel about getting AI-generated emails and other messages from your colleagues, staff, and clients? Do you use AI to write or rewrite your own emails and memos? Do you use it to write other content, such as pitch decks, sales materials, website content, or Slack messages? Why or why not? Overall, do you think the prevalence of AI is improving communication or making it worse?
I have mixed feelings about AI-generated messages in the workplace. As someone deeply involved in educational content and SEO writing, I quickly recognized AI’s potential and limitations. While I tested tools like ChatGPT early on and was initially impressed, it didn’t take long to notice the repetitive phrasing and formulaic patterns. Natural language models have evolved quickly and significantly, but these typical patterns are still easily recognizable.
That’s why, although I often rely on these tools to brainstorm, outline, and refine my drafts, I never use them to speak for me. AI-written messages often feel impersonal or detached—efficient, maybe, but rarely engaging. So, while AI can absolutely improve workflow and help us work smarter, I believe it’s most effective when used as a creative partner, not a replacement for human writing.
Irene Fenswick, Writer, Ivypanda Study Hub
So Where Do We Go From Here?
The verdict on AI in workplace communication is complicated.
Used thoughtfully, AI can streamline workflows, eliminate writer’s block, and improve clarity. But when overused or left unedited, it risks turning vibrant, human exchanges into sterile, forgettable blur. The best communicators—whether writing emails or crafting legal blog posts—treat AI as a collaborator, not a ghostwriter. In the end, AI may be the most powerful tool you use all day, but your voice is still the one that matters most.