Coaching in the Age of AI: Why Human Connection Still Matters

In my last post, I wrote about the idea that those with few needs are already close to happiness; a reflection on how simplicity, clarity, and contentment often go hand-in-hand. It got me thinking about coaching too: what do people really need from a coach? And in a world increasingly shaped by AI, will people still seek out coaching and mentoring at all?

I thought who better to put these questions to, than AI itself?

Here’s what it said:

“AI can offer information, prompts, and even reflection tools — but it can’t replace the trust, empathy, and human connection that coaching is built on. People don’t come to coaching because they lack data. They come because they want to be seen, supported, and stretched by someone who gets it.”

I couldn’t have put it better.

Coaching isn’t just about insight. It’s about relationship. It’s about presence. About someone really being there with you in a moment of uncertainty or growth - listening, challenging, and holding the space while you untangle whatever needs untangling. It’s a kind of attention that’s difficult to find in the modern world. And impossible to replicate with an algorithm.

From a psychological perspective, this makes complete sense. As human beings, connection is one of our most fundamental needs. Abraham Maslow placed love and belonging right in the middle of his hierarchy, alongside food, safety, and self-esteem. More recently, studies in neuroscience and social psychology have reinforced what we intuitively know: that being understood, supported, and emotionally attuned to is not just pleasant, it’s vital for wellbeing.

Even in a world where AI can simulate empathy or offer intelligent suggestions, people will still crave something more human. More real. Especially when navigating complexity, identity, or change - all of which coaching is designed to hold.

Ironically, the rise of AI might even increase demand for coaches and mentors. As the world moves faster, as roles shift and certainty thins out, people may find themselves needing space to pause, reflect, and make sense of it all. Not from a chatbot, but from a real person who can offer something AI never will: lived experience, honest feedback, and the kind of relational presence that helps people feel safe enough to grow.

So yes, I think people will still want coaching. Maybe even more than before.