AI coaches can take you far. But they can’t take you all the way

AI coaches are everywhere. They’re training marathoners and coaching leaders, and even billionaires Ray Dalio created an AI clone to serve as a digital mentor. In the past few months, searches for “AI coaching” have gone through the roof.

And it’s easy to see why. AI coaches are available 24/7, cost less than a gym membership, and can recall every word you’ve ever said. Research even shows they can match human coaches in helping people reach their goals. Ironically, people often tell AI things they’d never tell another person. Studies show chatbots reduce our fear of judgment, making them surprisingly effective at uncovering what’s really going on.

And with 94% of employees saying they’d stay longer at a company that invests in their growth, AI coaching seems like the perfect solution, at least on paper. I’m a coach and I use AI.

But after a decade of coaching more than 4,000 people, here’s what I’ve learned: AI moves the needle 90%, sure. But for the life-changing 10%, you still need a human.

Why AI coaching falls short

Last month, a client told me she wanted to “readjust her focus.” If she’d asked an AI coach, she would’ve gotten a list of productivity hacks. But when I heard her say it, I noticed something felt off.

“Did you notice how your energy dropped when you said that?” I asked. That question opened the real issue. She wasn’t struggling with priorities; she was afraid of leaving her comfort zone. Changing her focus was a protective strategy that would’ve kept her stuck.

That’s the 10% AI can’t identify.

Science backs this up. Our brains sync through mirror neurons, a process called emotional contagion. It’s how a coach can sense when your energy dips, even before you speak.

Humans also co-regulate each other’s stress responses, a process that’s essential for change. That’s why, in psychotherapy, the relationship itself predicts outcomes as much as any treatment method. The same holds true for coaching.

Finally, clients often tell me they chose to work with me because of my story. I’m the child of immigrants who became a Princeton-trained engineer before walking away from corporate life. I’m also an introvert who’d rather watch Netflix than network. That shared humanity—seeing someone who’s been where they are—builds trust and makes them realize: “If she can do it, maybe I can too.”

The smarter way forward: 3 ways to use hybrid coaching

Still, I’m not saying AI coaching doesn’t work, because it does. But the smartest coaches and clients won’t choose between humans and AI. They’ll use both.

Here’s how to combine them for the best results:

1. Be consistent

Use an AI tool like ChatGPT to stay accountable every day. Prompts like “Based on my reflections this week, what patterns or habits keep showing up?” or “Highlight one recurring theme in my journaling that might be holding me back” help you track growth between sessions.

2. Dig deeper

AI can help you surface patterns faster. One of my clients uses AI to journal every morning. By the time she shows up to our call, she has already identified her blocks, so we can focus on getting results faster. Try prompts like: “How would an executive or business coach advise me on this?”

3. Define actions

After each session, use an AI transcription tool like Otter.ai to turn coaching insights into concrete steps. Use prompts like: “Based on this call, what actions do I need to take in the next week/month?” and “Turn this call into a simple weekly action plan.” That’s how AI helps you move faster—while your human coach makes sure you move in the right direction.

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