Augmented empathy
Want to be more empathetic? Start with an algorithm. The weird truth about modern leadership.
Third-party evaluators just rated AI responses as more compassionate than expert human responses. But here's the real kicker: the best leaders are using this to become more empathetic leaders.
I know, I know. It sounds backwards.
How can artificial intelligence make us more human?
The research is wild: AI-generated empathetic responses scored higher on compassion, responsiveness, and preference than responses from expert crisis counselors (Communications Psychology, January 2025).
While 96% of teams are adopting AI, only 25% of employees think their leaders can actually manage the change well. The disconnect? Most leaders are using AI to optimize campaigns when they should be using it to optimize their leadership.
Here's what smart leaders are doing differently:
🧠 They're using AI as their empathy coach
AI sentiment analysis tools don't just track customer mood—they help leaders understand their team's emotional state in real-time. A CMO friend told me she uses AI to flag when her Slack messages sound too harsh before hitting send.
📊 They let data drive their humanity
87% of employees say empathy translates to better leadership. AI can identify patterns in team communication, predict burnout before it happens, and even suggest more empathetic language in difficult conversations.
⚡ They use AI to scale their emotional intelligence
While AI handles the spreadsheets, these leaders focus on the 1:1s. The result? Organizations with empathetic leaders see 37% higher engagement and 50% lower turnover.
The weird truth:
AI can process emotional patterns faster than humans, recognize distress signals we miss, and suggest responses that feel more caring. It's not replacing empathy—it's amplifying it.
Think about it: If AI can help doctors make better diagnoses, why can't it help leaders make better emotional connections?
But here's the critical part—transparency matters. Research shows people are more willing to empathize with AI when they know it's AI. The best leaders aren't hiding their AI usage; they're being open about how technology helps them be more human.
Your teams are going through the biggest workplace transformation in a generation. They don't need you to be perfect. They need you to be present, understanding, and responsive to their real concerns.
AI can give you insights. But only you can act on them with genuine care.
Your turn: What's one way you could use AI to better understand your team's emotional needs? The future of leadership isn't human vs. machine—it's human + machine working together to create more caring organizations.