How Human Can AI Really Be? 6 Ways Innovators Can Stay Bold and Human

“AI will not replace humans, but those who use AI will replace those who don’t.” – Ginni Rometty, Former CEO of IBM 

Let’s be honest, AI is moving fast. Like “respond to an RFP, summarize a meeting with action items and next steps, and build a marketing brief before lunch” fast. 

But if you’re someone who’s constantly pushing ideas forward, challenging the norm, and trying to spark momentum, you already know it’s not just about what tech can do; it’s about how people respond. 

So here’s the question: What happens when the tools we use start to think like us, but can’t feel like us? 

In this week’s episode of the Momentum (Sidekick’s newly launched podcast!), Nora and Bonny sit down with Ok Ikejiani and Israel Diaz to unpack the tension (and potential) in that exact space. Here we’re diving into what it means for you as an innovation-focused leader trying to make change stick. 

1. AI Can Spot the Pattern, but Emotional Intelligence Sees the People 

Sure, AI can tell you: 

• Who’s underperforming 

• Where engagement is dipping 

• What process is causing delays 

  
  

But Emotional Intelligence helps you dig into the why behind it all: 

• Is someone burnt out or just disengaged? 

• Does the team feel unclear or unheard? 

• Is the resistance about fear, not logic? 

You can’t fix what you don’t feel. Data gives you clues, whereas Emotional Intelligence gives you connection. 

2. Use AI to Experiment, But Emotional Intelligence to Make it Land 

AI is great for pressure-testing ideas: mock up messaging, brainstorm names, generate strategies. 

But don’t skip the human gut check: 

• Does this feel aligned with our values? 

• Will this build trust or damage it? 

• Does it empower people, or just serve speed? 

Emotionally intelligent leaders don’t just launch ideas. They make sure those ideas are landing well while building buy-in along the way. As Ok said in the Momentum episode, “human in the loop – always.” 

3. Emotional Intelligence Is the Secret Sauce in Stakeholder Buy-In 

Let’s talk alignment. You’ve got a fresh idea, the data backs it… and still, people hesitate. 

That’s not a failure. That’s a flag: more listening, more empathy, more time in the messy middle. 

Emotional Intelligence helps you: 

• Read between the lines in a quiet Zoom room 

• Ask, “What’s not being said?” 

• Adapt how you pitch based on who’s in the room 

Leaders who do this well? They don’t just get approval; they get ownership and trust. 

4. Emotional Intelligence Builds Cultures That Can Handle Change 

Innovators thrive in motion. But not everyone does. 

And if your culture isn’t emotionally fluent, every pivot feels like a threat. 

Emotionally intelligent leaders don’t just drive change, they: 

• Name the emotional toll of transitions 

• Validate team worries without letting them derail progress 

• Normalize learning, feedback, and iteration 

That’s how you keep momentum—and your team—intact. 

5. Challenge: Let AI Stretch You, Then Trust Your Judgment 

This week, try this: 

Drop a sticky challenge into an AI tool: a people issue, a stalled idea, a risky call. What comes back? What’s useful? What’s missing? What feels... off? 

Then ask: Where did your emotional intelligence add the insight AI couldn’t? 

This is the leadership workout. Let AI flex one muscle. Use EI to strengthen the rest. 

6. You Don’t Need More Tools. You Need Better Partnership. 

Here’s the truth: AI is here to stay. But real traction? That still comes from humans who get how change actually works. 

At Sidekick, we: 

• Help you validate and refine bold ideas 

• Facilitate emotionally intelligent conversations with real skeptics 

• Build frameworks that move fast and feel human 

Whether you're launching something new or unblocking an initiative that’s stalled—this is where we shine. 

Here’s our Final Thought: Empathy Isn’t a “Nice to Have,” It’s Core to What Makes us Human 

AI might be able to write code, answer emails, or crunch numbers faster than we can. 

But it still can’t do what we as humans do: 

• Read the room 

• Build momentum with care 

• Navigate emotions, resistance, and belief systems 

• Trust our gut when something’s just not right 

And that’s not a weakness. That’s the edge – let's chat!