'Please Stop Inviting AI Notetakers To Meetings'

Virtual meeting platforms are increasingly incorporating AI-powered notetaking tools that transcribe discussions and summarize key points, raising concerns about etiquette, privacy, and the potential to undermine communication. The technology may be seen as efficient, but it lacks the nuance and depth of human interaction in meeting rooms. The push to document every workplace interaction is not new, but the inclusion of AI technology raises new risks of missteps and misunderstandings. Colleagues may respond negatively to the presence of AI notetakers, wondering if they are unable to take notes themselves or remember what was discussed. Tech companies, on the other hand, benefit from selling these tools, as they can train AI systems on the data collected and create a new source of revenue. The use of AI notetakers may lead to a reliance on technology and a decrease in human interaction, potentially making office meetings less useful. Meetings are often seen as an opportunity for workers to come together and generate ideas through small talk, but the presence of AI notetakers may curb this type of interaction. If workers trade in-person engagement for AI readbacks, what remains is a series of data points and more AI-generated content. The key question is whether AI notetakers will make office meetings more useless than they already are. Ultimately, the use of AI notetakers may lead to a loss of human connection and a reliance on technology in the workplace.