How Is AI Changing Workplace Connection?

Is AI eroding human connection? In this episode of Work Week, Dr. Gabby Burlacu of The Upwork Research Institute explores a surprising paradox in the modern workplace: AI is driving huge gains in workplace efficiency—but those who report the biggest productivity boosts are also most at risk of burnout and disconnection, even leading to resignation.

Drawing from The Upwork Research Institute’s latest research report, From Tools to Teammates: Navigating the Human-AI Relationship, we discuss how to strike the right balance between driving productivity and maintaining close, professional relationships in an AI-driven workplace. Plus, learn steps you can take to restore human connection in your workflows. Listen to the episode to discover how to build both high-performing and deeply connected teams.

Episode Transcript

(00:04):
- Hello and welcome to "Workweek,"
the podcast where wetackle one big question
about the rapidly evolving workplace,
explore what the researchsays about the issue
and explain what it all means for you.
I'm Dr. Gabby Burlacu,
senior manager at theUpwork Research Institute.
What you're hearing is a digitalproxy of my voice created
by our team with the help of AI.

(00:25):
Each episode, we bring you fresh research,
new perspectives, and practical guidance
to help you navigate thechanging world of work.
This week, we're digginginto a complex question
that many forward-thinkingcompanies are struggling with.
How is AI changing humanconnection at work?
At a glance, AI isdelivering positive outcomes
that include increased productivity,

(00:46):
better efficiency, and smarter workflows.
However, the new modesof work that AI enables
are also having unintended consequences,
consequences that businessleaders need to plan for
and that people needto learn to work with.
The Upwork Research Institute
recently surveyed 2,500 global workers,
including 1,250 C-suite executives,

(01:07):
625 full-time salariedemployees and 625 freelancers.
Based on the survey insights,we created a report titled,
"From Tools to Teammates,
Navigating the Human-AI Relationship,"
our findings suggeststhat 77% of executives
are already seeing measurableproductivity gains from AI.
Workers agreed, sayingthey're 40% more productive

(01:30):
when using AI.
That sounds like a win-win, right?
Well, not so fast.
What if I told you that the very people
who are most effective with AI,
those who report thebiggest productivity boosts,
are also the most at riskof burnout and disconnection
and are the most likely to resign?
That's the paradox at thecenter of our new report.

(01:50):
In discussions aboutthe use of AI at work,
the focus is often on what AI can do,
such as generate content, analyze data,
summarize meetings, and write code.
But an equally importantconversation looks
at how AI is changing thehuman experience of work.
Take for example, the surgein interest around AI agents,

(02:11):
which we've discussed in twoprevious episodes titled,
"Is Your Workforce Preparedto Manage AI Agents?"
and, "What's the DifferenceBetween AI Agents
and Agentic AI?"
On Upwork alone, monthlysearches for freelancers skilled
in AI agents grew over 300%in six months as of May, 2025.

(02:31):
The fact that people arelooking for freelancers
skilled in using tools
that can respond to their environment
and even adapt to newinformation in real time,
tells us something important.
Beyond being used as a tool,
AI is being treated moreand more like a teammate,
one that works fast, doesn't judge,
and never needs a coffee break.
However, embracing AIagents and other AI tools

(02:54):
shouldn't come at the cost
of genuine connection andrelationships with teammates.
But here's where AI usegets more complicated.
In our research, we lookedat the habits and experiences
of workers who are mostproductive with AI tools,
and what we found was alarming.
About two thirds said they trust AI
more than their coworkers,and 64% went so far

(03:15):
as to say they have abetter relationship with AI
than with their teammates.
These findings may seem absurd at first,
but as recent headlines show,
many people are also buildinghuman-like relationships
with AI outside of work.
CBS News aired a segment about the rise
in unconventional romanticrelationships with chatbots,
including one man who evenproposed to a chatbot,

(03:38):
and Stanford University releaseda study about the drawbacks
of using AI chatbots for therapy.
Similar to embracing AI at work,
these examples can come at the expense
of true human connectionand relationships.
When we asked the individualsmost productive with AI
about how they interactwith AI versus people,
85% admitted they're morepolite to AI than to humans,

(04:00):
and this habit seems to be pervasive.
So many people are sayingplease and thank you to ChatGPT,
that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
has said it's increasingcomputing power costs
by millions of dollars.
Our report also found thatnearly nine out of 10,
88% of those who aremost productive with AI,
reported feeling burned out.

(04:20):
External research shows a similar trend
regarding AI use and employee burnout.
A 2024 survey from QuantumWorkplace featuring insights
from 32,000 employedindividuals across the US
found that 45% of frequentAI users reported burnout.
For comparison, 38% of infrequent AI users

(04:40):
and 35% of those who have never used AI
reported high burnoutaccording to the report.
Let's be clear, AI isdoing remarkable things.
It's helping peoplebecome more productive.
It's enabling them totake on more creative
and strategic projects,
and it's helping them learn on the job.
For example, as one freelancerwe interviewed, Noah,

(05:01):
a FinTech and supply chainmanagement specialist, shared,
"I do my best to useAI as a learning tool,
not to do the thinking for me.
Using AI allows me to learn as I'm going."
This is an ideal case whereAI augments human growth
rather than shortcircuiting it.
Many people, however, are using AI in ways
that seem to simplify a process,

(05:22):
but that may have theunintended consequence
of disconnecting us from our colleagues.
For example, Steven, a general director
of a professional services organization,
described how he prefersgetting task reminders
from an AI system because theyfeel less confrontational.
As he shared, "It's more neutral
when it's coming from an AIthan coming from a person."

(05:43):
This kind of neutrality mayfeel easier in the moment
and it may prevent someconversations with another person
that you don't feel you have time for
or that may even be uncomfortable,
but it might also be enabling a decline
in human connection and interaction
that is having a direct impact
on both individuals and organizations.
Our "From Tools toTeammates" report suggests
that high productive AI users,

(06:05):
those who have leaned intothis new way of working,
are also twice as likely toplan to quit their job, why?
Often because they feel disconnected.
They're thriving in terms of productivity,
but feel they lack a sense of belonging.
And over time,
this disconnect erodesthe social fabric of work,
what makes teams gel,
what builds trust and whatmakes team members wanna stay

(06:26):
and collaborate with oneanother towards shared goals.
It's ironic, really, the moreeffective you become with AI,
the more you risk feeling likeyou no longer need your team.
But here's the reality.
AI may be able to perform tasks,
but it can't replicate relationships.
No algorithm can replacethe feeling of being seen,
valued, or challengedby another human being,

(06:47):
and no tool, no matter how advanced,
can spark the kind ofcreativity, collaboration,
or mutual growth that happens
when people work together with intention.
We don't share theseinsights to raise alarm.
We share them so your teamcan strike the right balance
between embracing AI andmaintaining human connections.
So how can leaders intentionallyrestore human connection

(07:08):
in a workplace that isincreasingly technology-driven?
Here's a step-by-step process to consider.
First, audit your team'smost common workflows,
and identify where human touch
has been replaced by automation.
Look at communications,meetings and feedback loops.
Which of these havebecome entirely AI driven?
Ask yourself if those automated processes

(07:28):
are eroding opportunities for connection.
Second, reintroduce smallmeaningful human rituals.
These could include weekly10 minute check-ins,
personalized kudos shared in team chats
or live brainstorming sessionswhere no AI tools are used.
Third, make space forshared vulnerability.
This might sound counterintuitive
in a productivity-focused culture,

(07:49):
but vulnerability builds trust.
Consider practices likemanager reflection sessions,
anonymous employee engagement surveys,
or creating time during team
and one-on-one meetings for individuals
to talk about both work
and non-work related wins or challenges.
Finally, focus on improving
and reinforcing connection,not just output.
When team members reportfeelings of burnout

(08:11):
or disengagement, identifysteps your organization can take
to drive engagement and connection.
And when people go out of theirway to support a colleague,
coach someone new or diffusea conflict constructively,
recognize the behavior as visibly
as you would a successful deliverable.
In short, treat connectionas a deliverable.
Design for it, measure it, protect it.

(08:33):
(bright music)
Let's end the episode as we always do,
with an action step youcan implement immediately
and a reflection question to think about.
Here's one action step toconsider taking this week.
Pick a moment where AI hasreplaced human connection
and bring the human back in.
For example, if you use AIto draft Slack messages,

(08:54):
try some messages yourself
and ask follow up questionsto deepen the conversations.
If you send task reminders using AI,
consider scheduling abrief check-in instead,
or if you're a leader, ask your team
what task they findeasiest to offload to AI,
and then explore together
how that task could become an opportunity
for collaboration instead.
If you're a freelancer

(09:15):
and automate clientcommunications or project updates,
consider sending apersonalized direct message
about an exciting updateor milestone this week
to continue strengtheningyour client relationship.
This isn't about abandoning AI,
it's about designing your workflow
with intentional human touchpoints.
Micro-moments ofconnection can prevent tech
from becoming a wall instead of a bridge.

(09:37):
As we close, here's areflection to carry with you.
How can you help driveproductivity and efficiency
across your team whilemaintaining human connections?
Efficiency is important,but human connections
are what keeps peoplemotivated and resilient.
If leaders don't protectand prioritize connection,
no amount of productivitywill keep teams together.
The workplace is changing fast,

(09:59):
and AI is at the centerof that transformation.
But if leaders and organizations treat AI
as simply another technology upgrade
without examining its socialand emotional impacts,
they risk creatingincreasingly high performing,
but disengaged teams.
Human connection isn't a luxuryat work, it's a requirement.
Thank you for listening tothis episode of "Workweek."

(10:20):
Next week, we'll discussadditional insights
from our latest report,"From Tools to Teammates,
navigating the human AI relationship,
focusing on rethinking therole of middle managers
in an AI-driven workplace.
I'm Gabby Burlacu,
and if this conversationsparked something for you,
share it with a teammateor leave us a review
and be sure to subscribe
for more data-driven insightsinto the future of work.