Why AI emails can quietly destroy trust at work

AI is now a routine part of workplace communication, with most professionals using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. A study of over 1,000 professionals shows that while AI makes managers’ messages more polished, heavy reliance can damage trust. Employees tend to accept low-level AI help, such as grammar fixes, but become skeptical when supervisors use AI extensively, especially for personal or motivational messages. This “perception gap” can lead employees to question a manager’s sincerity, integrity, and leadership ability.