Relationships at work are important. They teach us how to disagree in a constructive way, work through problems and collaborate.
However, as the use of artificial intelligence increases in the workplace, it is shifting how these relationships work and raising questions about authenticity, trust and connection.
In a Harvard Business Review article, author Amy Gallo shares the following ways AI can cause problems in work relationships.
- It increases our cognitive load. When you do not know whether you are interacting with a human, a human using AI or just AI, you spend time and energy trying to understand why there is a shift in tone or why the email does not sound like your co-worker. It can make you question your relationship with that person and whether they are putting in enough effort.
- It creates “workslop,” not efficiency. When not used thoughtfully, AI can make your work more difficult. If AI helped your co-worker write a report more quickly, you now likely need to see whether the information is valuable and check sources. In a 2025 article, “AI-Generated ‘Workslop’ Is Destroying Productivity,” the authors said: “When co-workers receive workslop, they are often required to take on the burden of decoding the content, inferring missed or false context. A cascade of effortful and complex decision-making processes may follow, including rework and uncomfortable exchanges with colleagues.”
- It damages trust. The “workslop” research revealed that about half of survey respondents viewed co-workers who sent workslop as less creative, less capable and less reliable individuals than they did before. Forty-two percent viewed them as less trustworthy, and 37% viewed them as less intelligent.
- It eliminates necessary friction. Many employees use AI to help them navigate conflict and respond to difficult interpersonal situations. Gallo said: “I’m a big believer that we need tension and messiness to do good work. The friction, the back-and-forth, even the occasional miscommunication—these aren’t bugs in the system, they’re features. They’re how we collaborate, build understanding, and create something better together.”
- It prevents us from building real relationships. When employees turn to AI instead of people, relationships weaken. Gallo said: “When things go completely smoothly with someone, it may feel good but we don’t necessarily grow or bond. It’s in awkward moments, expressions of vulnerability, and the clearing up of miscommunications that we get to know others, and ourselves, better.”
- It may be training us to be less civil. When collaborating with AI, you don’t have to worry about its feelings. And many generative AI programs tell you what you want to hear. This can affect relationships with co-workers as you may have less patience when there is a disagreement or be less understanding if there is a result you do not like.
However, Gallo says when used intentionally, AI can be helpful in the workplace. She makes the following recommendations.
- Be transparent when you have used AI. Being upfront about your use of AI helps to reduce the cognitive load for your co-workers and helps you keep their trust. Note: Some people may use AI as an accommodation—for example, if they are dyslexic or significantly struggle to write emails—and they may not feel comfortable sharing that information.
- Reserve AI for transactional relationships. If an interaction is purely transactional and you are not building a relationship with someone, AI can be useful. For example, you might use AI to write a firm email to your general contractor who is not delivering as promised regarding work on your house. But do not use it in relationships when you are trying to build trust and connection.
- Use AI to strengthen human relationships—not replace them. You can ask AI for ideas on how to build rapport with a new co-worker or conversation starters for a one-on-one meeting. This way, you are using it to help make an initial connection but not to build a trusting relationship.
- Recognize you have different norms for people versus AI. Take a moment to identify and make a distinction between how you want to handle your in-person conversations and how you want to handle your interactions with AI.
