By Unni Turrettini, human connection expert and author of a forthcoming book, The Great Return

For many communication professionals, AI is seen as either a breakthrough tool or a disruptive threat. But Unni Turrettini — human connection expert and author of a forthcoming book, SOULWARE: The High Achiever’s Guide to Divine Connection in the Age of AI (Amplify Publishing, 2026) — offers a different lens: What if AI, when approached with intention, could help us become more human, not less? 

Turrettini, who advises high-performing leaders and teams worldwide, believes we are facing not just a technological revolution, but a relational one. “We’re communicating constantly,” she says, “but often without connection. The real crisis is disconnection — from ourselves, from each other, from meaning.” 

Her perspective is grounded in both emotional intelligence and emerging research. A 2022 study by Harvard Business Review found that employees who feel disconnected at work are five times more likely to experience stress and burnout, and 50% more likely to seek new employment. 

In this environment, AI won’t just change how we work…

This article was published in the Autumn-Winter 2025 issue of CODI, EACD’s magazine shaped by experts in the field and dedicated entirely to communication professionals. In a world where everything moves fast, CODI creates a moment to step back and explore key issues in real depth. Twice a year, it gives communicators the perspective they need beyond the noise of the news cycle.

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