Does this sound familiar? The LinkedIn feed is overflowing with headlines like these.

But here’s the catch: what’s often marketed as “AI-powered coaching” is, in reality, more like AI-powered mentoring or AI-powered training.

Take a recent example: I attended a webinar hosted by an “AI-powered coaching company.” They proudly shared a case study about making personal coaching accessible to most employees. But some quotes in the conversation between the L&D manager and the AI CEO made me pause:

• “It only takes five minutes—get a quick tip!”
• “AI coach doesn’t ask executives too many questions”
• “Help me solve this problem—average session length is six to eight minutes.”

Would any HR professional describe these brief interactions as effective coaching? I doubt it.

To top it off, they claimed that customizing their AI system to fit the company required just five hours. It made me wonder: should they have asked their AI “coach” about the limits of AI-powered coaching?

Coaching is 100% Human

Here’s the reality: authentic coaching thrives on what makes us uniquely human:

• Connection
• Empathy
• Emotions
• Lived experiences
• Intuition
• Cultural context
• Presence

While AI can’t replicate these qualities, it can enhance the coaching process in meaningful ways.

AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement

A great example comes from a webinar hosted by Solutions Academy. They showcased an AI solution as a learning partner for coaches, helping identify patterns in conversations and suggesting improvements based on specific ICF PCC markers. This doesn’t replace the depth and insight of an experienced supervisor. However, it addresses a need of coaches for self-review and continuous improvement.

The Takeaway

AI-powered coaching can be a powerful ally, offering structure, data, and insights—but let’s not confuse that with the transformative depth of human coaching.

#CoachingExcellence #HumanConnection #AIinHR #LeadershipDevelopment #ContinuousImprovement

Have you explored AI tools for your coaching practice? Share your experience!