Speaker and author Riaz Meghji is warning that the rush to replace human connection with artificial intelligence could have serious consequences for workplace culture and trust.

“What kind of culture are we building if our people feel more seen by algorithms than by allies?” Meghji wrote in a LinkedIn post. “Because here’s what I see in the workplace: Teams are overworked, managers are overwhelmed, empathy is often replaced by efficiency.”

Meghji’s warning comes as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has promoted a vision of AI where individuals could have personalized AI friends, emotional support bots, and AI business partners. Zuckerberg’s comments, reported by TechRadar, suggest a future in which relationships and emotional needs might increasingly be mediated by artificial intelligence rather than by human connection.

While acknowledging that AI tools can provide support, Meghji emphasized that authentic trust, empathy, and human presence cannot be replaced by machines. He argued that true leadership in the AI era must focus not just on scaling technology, but on scaling trust within teams. When trust breaks down, he warned, so does organizational culture.

Riaz Meghji is a human connection expert, keynote speaker, and author of Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships. He helps leaders, teams, and organizations strengthen communication, empathy, and trust in an increasingly digital world.