Artificial intelligence has become the new office assistant, streamlining emails, reports, and brainstorming sessions. But psychologists are warning that leaning on it too heavily may come with a hidden price: our social and emotional skills.
In a recent interview with Business Insider, Boston-based psychologist Laura Greve cautioned that while AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude can boost productivity, overdependence on them risks eroding workplace communication.
“Human relationships, for all their messiness, are engines of personal growth,” Greve explained. “Other people challenge us, surprise us, disappoint us, and inspire us in ways that force us to expand beyond our comfort zones.”
Greve likens excessive AI use to junk food. It delivers instant satisfaction, but over time it can result in what she calls “relational diabetes,” leaving workers socially undernourished and emotionally stagnant.
The Junk Food Metaphor: Easy, Fast, But Not Healthy
For many employees, turning to AI feels safer than approaching a colleague. Chatbots don’t judge, interrupt, or disagree. They deliver answers on demand without awkward pauses or heated debates. Yet this frictionless interaction, Greve argues, is precisely the problem.
“AI, by design, tends to accommodate our existing preferences rather than challenge them,” she said. The absence of disagreement or discomfort may feel pleasant in the moment, but it strips away the very frictions that help people grow resilience, empathy, and influence in real-world settings.
Studies Show a Decline in Human Skills
Greve’s concerns echo recent research. A report by UK-based learning platform Multiverse warned that companies are spending millions on AI adoption but investing far less in developing the human skills necessary to use the technology effectively. Critical thinking, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and ethical reasoning are among the 13 human capabilities that separate a casual AI user from a true “power user.”
“AI is a co-pilot, but we still need a pilot,” said Imogen Stanley, Senior Learning Scientist at Multiverse.
Meanwhile, a study from the MIT Media Lab observed the cognitive toll of AI reliance. Students who consistently used ChatGPT showed weaker memory retention, lower originality, and even reduced brain activity when asked to work independently. The researchers described it as a “shortcut that costs more than time,” warning that convenience can breed mental passivity.
The Risk for Young Workers
Greve is particularly worried about younger generations entering the workforce. If their first professional interactions are mediated through AI tools, they may struggle to build the trust and influence that real careers depend on.
“Think about the person you want to be at 40, 50, 60,” she said. “In a world where everyone has access to the same AI tools, your ability to build genuine human connections, inspire trust, and work collaboratively will become your most significant professional asset.”
Balance Is Everything
The message is clear: AI is here to stay, but it cannot replace the messy, sometimes uncomfortable dynamics of human connection. Just as a diet overloaded with fast food leads to health issues, overconsuming AI-generated interactions could cause a kind of professional and emotional malnutrition.
The challenge for today’s workers is not to reject AI but to use it as a supplement, not a substitute, for the skills that only humans can bring to the table.
