Tech Week in New York: Where Human Connection Trumps AI
Of the six founders I spoke with, five explicitly marketed their projects as AI companies. Yet, they all independently highlighted a crucial business skill that AI currently can’t master: interpersonal skills. Somya Gupta, 25, founder of Context, an AI education startup, emphasized that ‘what AI will never replace is human connection, how to deal with people.’
Ben Spray, 21, CEO of Consolidated Consulting, echoed this sentiment, stating that humans outperform AI in ‘design and emotional intelligence.’ He explained that while AI can produce code, it struggles to understand ‘really, really varied connections.’ Matt Bishop, founder of Open City Labs, shared his experience building AI chatbots since 2017. His company uses AI to generate personalized health care plans, and while AI has outperformed doctors in certain tasks, Bishop stressed that human medical professionals are still essential.
The discussion also touched on the impact of AI on employment. Matt Slavik and Ondrej Illek, founders of a recruitment company that uses AI agents, emphasized the importance of maintaining a ‘human touch’ in their work. Bishop noted that the job market is particularly challenging for young people, suggesting that embracing AI could be key to success. Gupta, an optimist, believes that while AI may replace inefficient employees, those who learn to work with it can significantly boost their productivity.
As we walked along the west side of Manhattan, I was struck by the number of people engaging in face-to-face conversations, free from their computers and phones. The event highlighted the importance of human interaction in the tech industry, even as AI continues to advance. The Tech Week attendees demonstrated that while AI can process vast amounts of data, it is the human element that brings depth and understanding to their work.
