The impact of artificial intelligence on internal communication

In 2030, the Lehmann Group envisions a future where an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot controls internal communication. This advanced system efficiently delivers crucial information and daily goals to employees every morning. In times of crisis, the chatbot ensures that all employees receive critical updates instantaneously. Additionally, the AI utilises sensors in the factory to gather relevant insights on productivity, which then serves as the foundation for the following day's briefing.

While this thought experiment by the Lehmann Group may seem unsettling, it reflects the potential future trajectory influenced by current advancements such as ChatGPT and similar technologies. However, it's also essential to consider AI's existing capabilities in internal communication. So, what can AI already accomplish today?

Top management now recognises the importance of strong internal communication for a company's success. However, ensuring skilled internal communication requires significant time and resources. This is where AI comes in, offering a potential solution to streamline and optimise processes.

AI engines like GPT-4, coupled with the ChatGPT interface, can serve as a catalyst for skilled communicators. These tools excel in formulating key points, editing, condensing, and summarizing texts. Furthermore, ChatGPT and similar technologies are a valuable source of inspiration when encountering a creative block. They can provide concrete examples to make abstract topics more relatable, generate headings, and compile frequently asked questions on a particular subject. This makes them ideal for streamlining routine communication tasks.

Skepticism towards artificial intelligence is not without reason. Several factors contribute to this mistrust. Firstly, dystopian films have influenced our perception of AI, depicting humans engaged in battles against machines. Secondly, the lack of transparency regarding the decision-making process of AI systems has led to uncertainty. Moreover, certain AI tools have been known to disseminate false information, presenting it convincingly as factual, further eroding trust. The challenge lies in the fact that trust is a crucial factor in internal communication.

An interesting observation is that people tend to place their trust in artificial intelligence in cases where fair decisions are involved, particularly when those decisions directly affect them. The study conducted by TU Berlin confirms this finding. However, this trust is contingent upon transparent evaluation criteria. Another key finding from the KPMG study is that a significant majority of respondents desire stronger legal regulations for AI. Transparency and clear regulations can enhance trust in AI and strengthen the trend in internal communication.

After realizing that the Earth is not the center of the universe, humans have descended from animals, and human actions are not always purely logical, AI could become humanity's fourth major challenge. With its superior speed, data processing capabilities, and ability to make better decisions, artificial intelligence has emerged as a formidable force that surpasses human intelligence.

Despite its advancements, artificial intelligence still lacks a particular authenticity when it comes to empathetic, emotional, and personal communication. AI-generated texts often sound generic and occasionally naïve, lacking the depth of life experience. Humans can perceive this gap when reading such texts.

However, there are meaningful ways to utilise AI in internal communication. Acknowledging that AI will not replace humans in this domain is vital. Instead, AI can assist communicators in performing their roles better, faster, and more efficiently. Humans and machines can collabourate and complement each other, leveraging their respective strengths. AI can provide quick insights from vast amounts of data, aid in decision-making, and generate initial text frameworks with relevant information. Subsequently, humans can bring their empathy and real-life understanding to refine the content and messages, ensuring they have the impact needed to resonate with employees.

In 2030, the Lehmann Group will make every effort to establish trust in AI-based solutions among its employees. Although AI-generated informational texts and news may sound generic, this will become less significant. This is because, ultimately, honest and regular exchanges through direct conversations remain the most potent drivers of successful internal communication. With the support of AI, employees will have more time for meaningful interactions in the realm of internal communication.

Disclaimer: This text was written without AI support.