This article was originally published on Forbes.com on July 3, 2025, as part of the Forbes Business Council.
The way we communicate is changing fast. AI tools have transformed how we write, present and even think. The promise is tempting. Instant clarity, polished delivery, effortless everything.
But lately, I keep asking myself, “What are we losing?”
Across platforms, I’m noticing the same thing.
Emails that don’t sound like the person who sent them.
Posts that feel canned.
Stories that are too polished to feel real.
Our communication skills are quietly slipping away as technology keeps evolving.
The future of communication isn’t about AI. It’s about getting back to basics.
Recently, I listened to keynote speaker Allison Shapira talk about how AI could make us more authentic. She described something she calls the “AI Authenticity Loop,” which is, basically, using AI as a brainstorming partner to clarify your message. I get it. In theory, it makes sense.
But what I see happening in practice is very different.
We’re skipping the messy middle. The part where you wrestle with an idea, say it out loud, reshape it through feedback. Now, we drop in a prompt, and AI spits out something smooth, structured and devoid of personality. We’re outsourcing clarity. And the more we do it, the rustier our own skills get.
Remember when cellphones made us forget phone numbers? How many can you recall now? Exactly. That brain muscle atrophied.
This is even worse. We're not just forgetting information, we're forgetting how to think and communicate.
Still skeptical? A recent MIT study found real neural and behavioral consequences when people relied on AI to write their essays.
Even writing style is taking a hit. Take the em dash, for example. I used to love a good em dash. It signaled a confident writer who knew how to land a thought. But now? AI overuses it. You see the same pattern everywhere: Sentence. Em dash. Sentence. Suddenly, something that once showed voice now signals automation.
On Making Sense, one of my favourite podcasts, I heard a reference to a forecast called AI 2027. It outlines a not-so-distant future where superintelligence becomes the norm. The big takeaway? Change is coming faster than we can adapt.
Mark Cuban echoed a similar point. He said that as deepfakes flood our feeds, in-person experiences will become more valuable than ever. Face-to-face communication will be a differentiator. But only for those who’ve actually practiced it.
We can’t slow down AI.
Which is exactly why we need to be intentional about sharpening our communication skills.
Here are four that are becoming the rarest and will soon be the most valuable:.
With all the distractions around us, listening is at risk of becoming a forgotten art. And it’s the most important communication skill to bring back.
Real listening isn’t just about being quiet while someone else talks. It’s layered. At the physical level, it’s how you show you’re present: by nodding, making eye contact, saying “I hear you.” At the mental level, it’s pausing your inner monologue long enough to paraphrase and confirm what you’ve heard. And at the emotional level, it’s about tuning in to what’s not being said and gently asking about it.
Listening builds trust, and trust isn’t something you can delegate to an algorithm.
At The Humphrey Group, we teach that every time you speak, you have an opportunity to lead with a clear message: the single most powerful thing you want your audience to remember.
Clarity isn’t about dumbing things down. It’s about distilling your thoughts into something essential. We often run a simple test: Explain your message to a 12-year-old. If they can’t repeat it back to you, you need to refine it further.
Jargon and complexity can make us feel smart, but they often blur the message. Clarity does the opposite. It commands respect. And while AI can mimic clarity, only you can bring the depth behind it.
If there’s one universal truth in communication, it’s this: People don’t remember data. They remember stories.
Storytelling doesn’t require a dramatic life event. It’s often the small, everyday moments that carry the biggest lessons. A failed pitch. A surprising compliment. A workshop that didn’t go as planned. If you follow a simple structure (STORY: Setting, Tension, Opportunity, Result, Your Learning), you can turn any moment into a story worth sharing.
And when you do, something powerful happens. People relate. They open up. They see themselves in your experience. No AI tool can create that kind of trust on your behalf.
I recently taught a workshop in Seattle. It was my first in-person session in a while. What struck me most wasn’t the content. It was how eager people were to talk about things like eye contact and body language.
I coach people to ground themselves, to match their gestures to their message and to anchor their presence with intentional pauses. The goal is authenticity over performance. These things sound basic, but they’re skills we’re losing in our virtual-first world.
Connection matters more now than ever. If deepfakes and avatars become our norm, the rare moments of real presence will stand out.
Communication is a craft, just like dance or martial arts; it takes practice. AI makes things faster, but it removes the friction. And friction is where growth happens.
I’ll admit it: I’ve relied too much on the tools. I’ve let GPT draft emails I barely reviewed. But I've realized I’m losing the muscle.
That’s the risk. We lose our edge without realizing it. A generation that never learns to craft a message or tell a story risks losing its humanity.
AI is here. The question is: how do we stay human?
Use the tools. But don’t skip the hard parts. That’s where your voice lives.
Let’s get back to basics. Let’s listen better, speak clearly, tell stories and show up with presence. That’s not a step backward—it’s the only way forward. (And, yes, that em dash was intentional.)
Get back to basics. Build the human skills AI can’t replace.
Our Speaking as a Leader program helps leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and authenticity in every interaction—whether you’re inspiring a team, influencing stakeholders, or navigating high-stakes moments.