Has AI made us less confident communicators?

Not so long ago, I asked a client to composed an email during one of our coaching sessions. They hesitated.

‘I’d normally put this into ChatGPT first,’ they admitted.

I asked why.

‘So I know it sounds right.’

It struck me this wasn’t really about writing. It was more about confidence.

Over the past few years, artificial intelligence has become remarkably good at helping us communicate. It can draft emails, refine presentations, rewrite reports and even suggest how to handle difficult conversations.

In many ways, that’s extraordinary. However, are we starting to pay a hidden price?

From confidence to confirmation

One of AI’s greatest strengths is giving us a second opinion. The danger is when it quietly becomes our first instinct.

Rather than trusting ourselves to write an email, we ask AI. Rather than preparing our own presentation, we ask AI. Rather than finding our own words, we ask AI.

Gradually, confidence is replaced by confirmation.

We stop asking, ‘what do I think?’ And start asking, ‘is this right?’

They sound similar, but they’re not.

One builds confidence. The other builds dependence. Which depletes confidence.

Communication isn’t just about the words

Here’s some random things AI can’t do for you:

Walk into a boardroom: read the mood; notice the hesitation on someone’s face; sense that your explanation isn’t landing; pause; change tack; tell an engaging story, instead of quoting another statistic.

Communication has never been just about words.

It’s about judgement, timing, curiosity, presence, connection.

None of which come pre-installed in a prompt.

The confidence gap

I’m noticing something in coaching sessions.

Many capable professionals produce beautifully written words - ask them to explain the same idea in a meeting, however, and they hesitate.

The words don’t arrive as easily.

Without a keyboard between them and the conversation, confidence dips.

The thing is, writing gives us time… speaking, not so much.

Leadership rarely pauses while we search for the perfect sentence.

Real communication happens in real time.

What actors learn

As an actor, I spent thousands of hours learning scripts.

But the moments audiences remember most are the ones that felt spontaneous.

Not because they’re improvised, necessarily. But because the actors are fully present in the moment.

A good actor trains to respond truthfully to what’s happening in front of them, rather than clinging to what they planned to say and how they plan to say it.

Leadership requires exactly the same skill.

The best communicators don’t just deliver information: they adapt; they listen; they respond in the moment.

AI can help us prepare. It can’t replace our ability to be present.

AI as a coach - not a crutch

This isn’t an argument against AI. I use it myself. It’s a remarkable tool.

It can sharpen ideas, challenge assumptions and it can certainly save a lot of time.

The question is whether we’re using AI to strengthen our thinking - or to avoid thinking?

The first develops your judgement. The second risks replacing it.

Don’t outsource your voice

The leaders who will thrive in the age of AI won’t be those who use the most sophisticated tools. They’ll be the ones who remain unmistakably human.

Those leaders who: can think under pressure; explain complex ideas simply; build trust; handle difficult conversations.

Adapt when the meeting takes an unexpected turn.

Those aren’t just communication skills. They’re human skills.

And as AI becomes more capable, these human skills may become even more valuable.

The greatest opportunity AI gives us isn’t to communicate less. Perhaps it’s to be more intentional about the moments when only a human voice will do.

So here’s a simple question to reflect on: where are you relying on AI for reassurance instead of trusting your own voice?

And also, what might change if you are able to step into those moments with more confidence?

If this resonates, it may be worth exploring how you communicate in the moment.

I have a background in professional acting, behavioural psychology and more than 25 years experience in business leadership, I specialise in helping others communicate with more confidence, presence and influence.

I have coached senior executives, industry leaders and public figures on presentations, media appearances, high-stakes interviews and international negotiations.

I work with a select number of professionals each year, helping them develop greater communication skills in the moments that matter to them most.

I am trusted as an executive communication coach by several leaders at companies such as Abbott, BBC Studios and the NHS.

No sales pitch, no obligation to proceed, but if you'd like to explore how I may be able to support you, the first step is to contact me to book a free, confidential discovery call.