A fresh Harvard Business Review piece by Toby Lester digs into how AI is actually making the empathy problem in workplaces worse—not better. He wraps it around a Q&A with empathy expert Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki, who warns that while we expect leaders to be empathetic, recent AI tools like large language models are widening the disconnect. Zaki points to “sustainable empathy” as the antidote, suggesting that human-driven understanding needs to stay front and center—even if AI is tempting leaders toward efficiency over emotional connection.
Sources: Scoop.it, Harvard Business Review
Key Takeaways
– The HBR article explains that rising expectations for empathetic leadership are undercut by AI tools that may erode genuine human connection.
– The store page highlights that the piece includes a Q&A with psychologist Jamil Zaki, exploring shifting attitudes and what “sustainable empathy” looks like in a tech-heavy office.
– A Scoop.it summary emphasizes how empathy—far from being a soft skill—is a workplace “superpower,” linked to reduced burnout, resilience, retention, and creative risk-taking.
In-Depth
We’re living in a moment where tech’s all in—and empathy’s quietly getting left behind. According to a recent HBR article, AI and big language models are widening that emotional chasm between leaders and their teams. In it, Toby Lester brings us a thoughtful Q&A with Stanford psychologist Jamil Zaki, who’s long studied empathy in the workplace. Zaki argues something pretty straightforward: empathy used to be seen as a leadership weakness, but now we expect leaders to be emotionally intelligent—and ironically, AI makes it harder.
Why? Because AI often prioritizes efficiency over emotional nuance, nudging well-meaning managers away from genuine understanding toward canned responses. Zaki’s plug for “sustainable empathy” is a call to arms: leaders have to resist the urge to lean fully on AI and instead practice empathy that’s authentic and lasting. Scoop.it reinforces this, noting empathy delivers real business benefits—less burnout, more resilience, greater retention, and increased willingness among folks to take creative risks.
So the takeaway here? AI isn’t the enemy—but it doesn’t replace human connection. Leaders who value strong teams will use AI as a tool, not a crutch. If you want trust, loyalty, and innovation, you can’t let efficiency drown out empathy.