Most workers want an AI chatbot to be their work best friends, a new study says

Good morning!

Could we soon see a world in which AI becomes your cherished work spouse? As worker loneliness becomes more and more of a business risk and job pessimism hits its worst point in a decade, it may not be too far off.

A new study from advisory firm KPMG found that 45% of workers surveyed reported feelings of loneliness in the workplace, and the majority would trade 20% in salary in exchange for working with close friends. And 99% of workers are interested in an AI chatbot that could become a close friend or trusted companion at work.

There’s a business case, too: Nearly 90% said friendship-enabling cultures are crucial for retention.

I started wondering how leaders should be balancing the influx of new tech — and, apparently, a desire to befriend it — with worker