For as long as we’ve had the means, humans have built tools to communicate faster and be nearer to one another. From the phonograph to the telephone, the internet to social media, every leap in technology has been, at its core, about connection. AI is no different. Rather than replacing human interaction, AI serves as a tool to clarify, refine, and accelerate communication but ultimately, we still look for each other.

Why do we communicate? A look at communication theories

Throughout history, scholars have studied our deep-rooted drive to communicate. Several key theories help explain why AI fits into this trajectory:

• Social Presence Theory (Short, Williams, & Christie, 1976): This theory suggests that the degree of perceived “realness” in digital communication affects how connected we feel. While AI can clean up our writing, it doesn’t replace the warmth and nuance of human presence. We still crave authenticity and direct interaction.
• Media Richness Theory (Daft & Lengel, 1986): This theory argues that different communication channels have different capacities for conveying meaning. Face-to-face conversation is the richest form, while text-based communication is less so. AI can help make written communication clearer and more effective, but it doesn’t replace the depth of a conversation or human expression.
• Uses and Gratifications Theory (Blumler & Katz, 1974): This theory explores why people use different communication tools—to fulfill needs like information-seeking, entertainment, or social connection. AI fits into our need for efficiency, helping us craft better messages, but it doesn’t replace the need for real human engagement.
• Always Already New (Gitelman, 2006): This work examines the historical evolution of communication technologies, from the phonograph to the internet, highlighting how every ‘new’ technology builds upon previous ones rather than replacing them. AI follows this same trajectory—it refines and enhances, but it does not erase human presence.

How I use AI (and how it put me in my place)

I use AI in my work, for ideation, copy editing, and cleaning up stream-of-consciousness writing. It’s a fantastic tool for refining messaging and making content more engaging. But AI recently humbled me.

I had written, rewritten, and reworked a blog post multiple times, trying to make it perfect. Frustrated, I asked ChatGPT to merge my drafts into one final version. The result? I hated it. When I told AI how I felt, it hit me with some wisdom: “Stop looking for perfect.” And honestly? It was right.

We can use AI to help us communicate faster, better, and more clearly, but at the end of the day, humans seek connection and not just polished words.

AI as a communication technology

If we think about AI as just another tool in the evolution of communication, it starts to make more sense. It’s not here to replace human interaction but to streamline the process of getting our thoughts into the world. Whether it’s helping writers sharpen their ideas, assisting marketers in crafting more compelling messages, or making customer service more responsive, AI serves a purpose—but that purpose is still in service of human connection.

The future: AI & human connection

As AI continues to evolve, the key question remains: How do we use it to enhance our communication without losing the human element? The answer lies in balance. AI can optimize workflows, improve clarity, and generate insights, but it should never replace the voices, emotions, and connections that make communication truly meaningful.

At the end of the day, we don’t just seek information—we seek each other. And AI, when used well, helps us do just that.