Are AI Chatbots Replacing Your Office Best Friends

Meet Deborah Your New AI Work Bestie

For Nicole Ramirez, a 34-year-old in the health marketing field, Deborah has quickly become a favorite colleague. Deborah is efficient, complimentary, and witty. Best of all, there's no workplace rivalry because Deborah isn't a human coworker—she's ChatGPT. Ramirez began using the generative AI app for simple tasks like drafting emails. Over time, their interactions grew more complex, involving market research and analysis. Ramirez found herself thanking "Deborah" and confiding in the AI about her frustrations with real-life clients and colleagues, much like one would with a work bestie. "Those are things that you would usually turn to your work bestie over lunch about when you can go to ChatGPT — or Deborah, in my case," says Ramirez.

This trend of treating AI as a colleague is growing. Professionals are discovering that chatbots are more than just 24/7 therapists or companions; they are becoming model coworkers.

Why AI is the Perfect Colleague

The appeal of AI colleagues is undeniable. Unlike their human counterparts, chatbots are never grumpy, political, or distracting. They don't have bad habits, and they won't be offended if you reject their ideas. This has a deep appeal for many, especially considering a recent survey from the Center for Generational Kinetics found that nearly one-third of US workers would rather clean a toilet than ask a colleague for help.

Monica Park, a 32-year-old graphic designer, used to dread seeking feedback from human colleagues after a past coworker reacted to a draft with an F-bomb. With ChatGPT, the criticism is always constructive. "It's not saying it in a malicious or judgmental way," Park notes. "ChatGPT doesn't have any skin in the game."

Aaron Ansari, an information-security consultant, prefers using Anthropic's AI chatbot Claude to avoid the social obligations that can come with asking for help. He recalls a former colleague who would pressure him to buy her kids' Girl Scout cookies whenever he needed assistance. With Claude, there are no strings attached, and he can avoid awkward interruptions, like calling a colleague in a different time zone during their lunch break.

The Hidden Dangers of AI Companionship

However, experts warn that this growing reliance on AI could have significant downsides. A June study from MIT, titled "Your Brain on ChatGPT," found that the convenience of AI can weaken critical-thinking skills and encourage laziness.

"Like junk food, it's efficient when you need it, but too much over time can give you relational diabetes. You're starved of the nutrients you need, the real human connection." —Laura Greve, clinical health psychologist

Greve warns that we could be "accidentally training an entire generation to be workplace hermits," leading to a workforce of "emotionally unintelligent oafs." Connie Noonan Hadley, an organizational psychologist at Boston University, agrees, stating that as workers turn to AI, "the greater the chance the social fabric that weaves us together will weaken," which could harm collaborative businesses.

A Widening Gap in Workplace Perception

This shift also impacts workplace relationships. Karen Loftis, a senior product manager, noticed a distinct change after her company went all-in on AI. The daily calls from sales reps, which often led to personal conversations about her love for Peter Frampton concerts, almost completely stopped. "With AI, it's all work and no relationships," she said.

There's also a difference in how this reliance on AI is perceived. According to behavioral scientist David De Cremer, colleagues may view heavy AI users as less creative and dependent. In contrast, company leaders like Amazon's Andy Jassy and Shopify's Tobi Lütke often praise the technology for boosting productivity and saving costs.

The Trade Off Becoming More Self Sufficient

Workers who have embraced AI chatbots say they still interact with human peers, just less frequently. Lucas Figueiredo, a 27-year-old revenue management specialist, used to hesitate before interrupting a colleague who always wore AirPods. Now, he turns to Microsoft's Copilot first when he's stuck on a coding question.

This new approach has its benefits. "I've learned to be more self-sufficient," he says. "You don't want to ask those silly questions." The question that remains is whether this newfound self-sufficiency is worth the potential cost to our collaborative and social skills in the long run.

This article was adapted from a story by Sarah E. Needleman for Business Insider.