Perhaps it is just the algorithms, but my news feed, podcasts, reading list, and even the newspaper delivered to my house each day are filled with stories of the promise of AI advancements, BUT . . .
There is always a “but.” AI is impacting how we work and conduct our lives, but perhaps we aren’t or shouldn’t be “all-in” on this technology. It cannot replace in-person experiences, nor do we want it to.
Online Experiences
More and more data are pointing to the deleterious effects of living so much of our lives online. Loneliness is rising, particularly among younger populations. The OSU College of Health recently found that “those in the upper 25% of social media usage frequency were more than twice as likely to experience loneliness.” Among boys and young men, the problem can manifest differently. Instead of building lasting relationships, many are pulled into virtual echo chambers and trends such as “looksmaxing,” which prioritize appearance over substance (Notes on Being a Man by Scott Galloway is a worthwhile read on the topic). Inflammatory posting on social media has little real-world social consequences, and the natural filters that govern human interaction seem to have weakened. Unfiltered thoughts are spewed out into the universe. Not only does the unfiltered nonsense penetrate our heads and skew our perceptions, but it increasingly becomes the raw input for AI models themselves.
In-Person Experiences
That same desire for real-world connection may be starting to show up in consumer behavior. In-person play at bricks and mortar casinos increased in all 38 commercial gaming markets in the U.S. in 2025, even though online casino play is now available in a handful of states.
This week it was announced that Barry Diller offered to buy MGM Resorts International, a huge news story in the casino gaming industry, and, more importantly, potentially a signal of broader consumer sentiment. WSJ reported that “Diller said in an interview, ‘It wasn’t hard for me to find MGM, where no one is going to get in between those resorts and consumers until we get to the final simulation.’”
Diller is right. People want in-person experiences. We need them. An online simulation of a casino game can be fun, but the experience is lacking.
Human Versus AI Workers
An online simulation of a professional can deliver decent work, but it cannot be held accountable , nor does it consistently produce the spark of creativity that comes from lived experience. AI can make some of our work easier, and can help us to accomplish some tasks faster. But AI cannot be an entrepreneur, nor is it likely to replicate the risk-taking, intuition, and conviction required to build something from nothing. AI cannot truly sit across the table in a negotiation and win the argument, or turn an adversary into an advocate.
Coming Shift?
While many tech leaders and promoters seem to be forgetting this, everyday people have not. People want human interaction, and they want in-person experiences. AI may add to or improve how we work, but it is not replacing the fundamental human need for connection. And perhaps AI isn’t the only opportunity right now.
- Suzanne P. Leckert, Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Photo credit: Lim Kok Thay, CEO of Genting Group throws ceremonial dice during the opening of live table games at Resorts World New York City on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
