Bloomberg reports that Otter.AI is releasing an AI powered avatar so that busy CEOs can attend less meetings and get more done. Put another way, so their avatars can attend more meetings. The article writes, “The CEO of a meeting-transcription company has developed a digital avatar that can fill in for him, and envisions a day when every leader has one”

I think it’s a terrible idea, but not surprising. What do you think?

I’m all for advancements in technology, all for digital note takers and the like.

However, if my board has an important meeting, or if we need the CEO to attend a meeting that she needs to attend and give input on, why have the CEO’s digital-twin attend.

If the CEO needs someone to take notes and give him a briefing, sure thing.

If the CEO needs to delegate to others to attend for her, no problem.

Related – Arizona Supreme Court’s AI Avatars: A Smart Move Every Business Can Learn From

Humanity

However, are we missing HUMANITY by delegating our meeting attendance, even CEO meetings to a bot.

Sure, the avatar can use the amazing power of AI to give a pretty accurate answer or feedback to what the CEO would say.

YES indeed. Maybe it’s even 100% accurate 100% of the time.

Are we replacing all human interaction?

But where does it end?

Why not have the avatars of the VPs and directors, meet with the avatars of the CEO and no one attend the meeting.

Technology is amazingly powerful, however, is there a limit?

Are we humans not responsible for how we allow AI and any technology to invade our lives?

It’s an invasion we’re creating and welcome.

Related – Too Much Tech and Too Little Human: Find the Right Balance

LinkedIn’s COO Agrees

LinkedIn’s COO, Dan Shapero, acknowledges the utility of AI in summarizing meetings and preparing for discussions. However, he emphasizes that leadership, deep interpersonal engagement, and candidate recruitment are areas where human insight remains irreplaceable . This perspective underscores the importance of human judgment and emotional intelligence in roles that shape organizational culture and strategy.​ Source Business Insider

The ethical implications of deploying AI avatars are multifaceted. Experts caution against scenarios where AI representations make decisions or communicate on behalf of individuals without clear disclosure, potentially leading to trust issues and accountability challenges . Moreover, as AI avatars become more sophisticated, distinguishing between genuine human interaction and AI-driven communication may become increasingly difficult, further complicating ethical considerations.​Source LinkedIn – Marc Watkins

From a cultural standpoint, the integration of AI in workplace interactions has been linked to feelings of disconnection among employees. A study highlighted that 47% of employees felt more disconnected from their company’s culture due to rapid AI integration . This statistic underscores the potential impact of reduced human interaction on employee engagement and organizational cohesion. Source ​theHRDIRECTOR