Why AI Empathy Won’t Replace Human Leaders (Yet)
Published in: Forbes — October 2025
Written by
Summary
What we found: We found that while AI systems can outperform humans on certain measures of emotional intelligence, people still perceive human empathy as more meaningful and trustworthy. Even when AI responses are objectively better, individuals rate them as less empathetic if they know they come from a machine.
Why it matters: Empathy remains a core leadership trait that builds trust, cohesion, and emotional support within teams—areas where AI still falls short. As AI becomes more socially competent, human leaders who fail to show genuine empathy may risk being replaced in the eyes of their teams.
What next: Organizations and leaders should invest in strengthening human empathy skills, especially in emotionally sensitive contexts where personal connection matters most. At the same time, they can leverage AI to support cognitive empathy tasks—like summarizing emotional insights—without replacing the human presence that drives trust and connection.