One Thing For You To Remember About AI

A Harvard Business Impact webinar used Harvard College dean David Deming’s discussion to frame AI’s rise as a “post-commodity economy,” arguing the human need for connection—often called the “relational sector”—becomes more valuable rather than less. The article says consumers may prefer human interaction in service settings even when AI can be more efficient, citing examples such as customers wanting to know baristas at Starbucks and the way airline status can make it more likely to reach a human agent for flight changes. It also references Robert Waldinger’s work on the Harvard Study of Adult Development and the idea of “social fitness.” The central takeaway: AI can analyze and automate, but the piece argues it can’t replace real relationships, especially as social circles naturally shrink.