Executive coach Mark K. House faced challenges with his new supervisor and chose an unconventional approach. Instead of reaching out to HR or a mentor, he turned to an artificial intelligence (AI) model of himself. House had offered his expertise twice to his boss, only to be dismissed each time. Feeling sidelined and unengaged, he consulted eMark, an AI coach developed via Coachvox—a platform where consultants and executives create tailored AI models grounded in their unique content and experiences.
The eMark conversations feel shockingly real and help me narrow a broader problem to a more specific issue, which I find helpful,
House shared with Newsweek.
Workplace Loneliness Meets AI
Workplace loneliness persists as a problem for numerous U.S. employees. A 2026 report from global research firm Gallup revealed that 19% of U.S. employees reported feeling lonely often during their workday in 2025. Concurrently, employees increasingly rely on AI for support and advice. The Workdays 2026 Human Connection Workplace Index, involving 2,150 workers across seven countries who regularly use AI, found that 76% had sought advice from AI and 37% used it for companionship. At the same time, 43% expressed concern over losing human connection due to AI in the workplace.
These findings indicate software is stepping into roles traditionally filled by human interaction, despite employees’ concerns about possible compromises.
Why Companies Are Building AI Coaches
Jim Canfield, an executive coach and co-developer of Colleague, an AI coaching platform launched in May 2026, shared insights into this trend. With over 10,000 hours working with CEOs and leadership teams, Canfield recognized a common issue: capable individuals confronting tough decisions or conversations often lacked someone they trusted to seek candid feedback or guidance.
This is the business challenge that intrigued me,
Canfield explained. Not simply ‘loneliness,’ but what transpires when people lack a trustworthy figure to consult before acting.
Colleague offers users an ever-available space to navigate these challenges. It aims to provide perspective and challenge users’ thinking, preparing them for the subsequent human interactions. However, Canfield is cautious about proclaiming Colleague as a solution to workplace loneliness. He emphasized the need for measured outcomes, noting that the platform’s effectiveness will depend significantly on factors like user engagement and perceived support.
What AI Can Actually Provide
Research supports the idea that chatbots may assist in emotional processing. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that AI companions reduced reported loneliness by making people feel heard. Organizational psychologists suggest this mechanism functions similarly in professional environments. Karen Niven from the University of Sheffield noted that workplace bots could replicate aspects of peer support.
AI can replicate many of these benefits, notably making users feel listened to and understood,
Niven told Newsweek. Nonetheless, she stressed that human empathy requires dedication to both listening and empathizing.
This balance aligns with how employees employ these digital tools. For House, the practical benefits of AI surpassed the emotional. AI allowed him to process advice without facing immediate pressure to react.
Responding spontaneously carries innate stress that eMark eliminates,
he said. However, House still values human relationships. I would prefer human Mark over an AI coach, but eMark was not lacking,
he added.
Man Versus Machine
Distinguishing between human and AI interactions remains vital for business leaders. Although AI provides a secure venue for structuring problems or rehearsing difficult conversations, it cannot replace strong leadership or reduce workplace isolation independently. Gallup’s research supports that effective management, workload balance, and structured opportunities for connection drive employee engagement.
Therefore, the strategic focus for businesses extends beyond loneliness. An AI tool might make someone feel heard, but it cannot integrate them into a network, pass on institutional knowledge, or offer personal support like a human colleague,
Bridget Bryan from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London told Newsweek. She emphasized that building trust, fostering culture, and forging meaningful connections remain vital human duties.