The human element of communication

Past communication tech conquered physical distance and time. But as generative AI becomes part of how we create, receive, and interpret human messages, it must focus not just on speed and ease, but on reducing the emotional and interpretive distance between people.

Communication is one of the most basic human survival behaviors. People communicate to warn others about danger, ask for help, share knowledge, coordinate actions, build relationships, solve conflicts, and make decisions. In modern society, almost every form of collective activity depends on communication: scientific research, business cooperation, education, government operations, family life, and even an ordinary conversation between friends.

Therefore, communication has never been only about transmitting information.

If communication were simply about moving information from Point A to Point B, then a fax machine would already have solved most human problems.

Unfortunately, humans are not fax…