Hachette’s CEO writes every email himself. He says AI shortcuts are creating a ‘worse C-suite’
Executives are saving hours by letting AI summarize articles and write their emails. But some leaders fear delegating these tasks to AI could come with unforeseen consequences.
Some high-profile business leaders are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to handle tasks like summarizing reports, drafting emails, and even speaking on their behalf. A survey by General Assembly and coaching firm EZRA found that over two-thirds of leaders in the U.S. and U.K. use AI to summarize documents, while 58% employ it for drafting emails.
Notable figures such as LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg are reportedly utilizing AI to assist with their communication. However, Hachette CEO David Shelley warns that leaders who rely too heavily on AI could face communication challenges, as they may project a different image online than they do in person.
Shelley emphasizes the importance of CEOs writing their own emails to maintain a personal touch, as employees can easily spot messages that do not sound like the boss. He also expresses concern that outsourcing communication to AI may hinder a leader's ability to think on their feet, thus reducing their cognitive abilities. Shelley predicts that a lack of reading for pleasure, which is a common habit among billionaires, will further exacerbate the decline in critical thinking skills.
He believes that as AI takes over routine tasks, leadership roles that depend on understanding diverse perspectives and soft skills will become more valuable.
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