Imagine this: AI as the ultimate office colleague—dependable, neutral, and, surprisingly, consistent (no mood swings or coffee cravings!). In our recent conversation, we jokingly touched on AI’s capacity to be that endlessly patient ‘member’ of the team who’s immune to the classic human quirks that affect decision-making. Whether it’s the infamous pre-lunch grumpiness or the “end-of-the-day fatigue,” AI, unlike us, is refreshingly unaffected.
Consider this: studies show that human decisions, even serious ones, can be influenced by something as simple as hunger (the “hangry effect” is real!). AI, on the other hand, gives consistent outputs no matter the hour—no caffeine necessary. Its neutrality can be a relief in emotionally charged situations too. For example, when AI analyses feedback, it cuts straight through the passion to deliver the heart of the message. It’s there to work with the data and provide an honest, unbiased perspective, even when things get a bit “messy” (we’re looking at you, organisational politics!).
Of course, AI as a neutral observer doesn’t mean it’s the ‘perfect’ colleague. It’s only as smart as the data it’s fed, so if you train it with the wrong materials, it’ll reflect back what it’s been given. Think of it as that overly eager intern who does exactly what you ask—without questioning whether it makes sense. This highlights the importance of giving AI a good “training regime,” from feeding it well-thought-out questions to keeping an eye on how it responds.
While we won’t be inviting AI to office happy hours any time soon, there’s something intriguing about its potential role in team culture. When used thoughtfully, AI could very well become that reliable office buddy who quietly does the work in the background, ready to support the team without taking the credit (or all the biscuits). So, is AI the office’s new “neutral colleague”? Perhaps! And it may just help keep us grounded—whether we’re hangry or not.
https://mayvin.co.uk/podcasts/the-research-hub-podcast-ai-and-the-future-of-work