AI is not just helping people write faster. Used well, it helps leaders prepare better before the conversation even starts.
For the past year and a half, I’ve been experimenting with using AI to prepare for real-world conversations.
What’s surprised me most has been how powerful the results can be in the real world, and how often those results run against conventional wisdom.
The consensus out there is that AI will ruin interpersonal relationships.
That, as people turn more and more to AI, their interactions with real humans will weaken.
And if you look at AI on the surface level, it’s an easy conclusion to make.
Read a few LinkedIn comments, and you’ll see evidence of it.
Less human. More scripted. More distant.
I’ve always said that, like anything else, the better you use AI, the better your results will be.
In truth, I’ve found the opposite of what many people fear.
Using AI has made me more prepared.
More thoughtful.
And in many cases, more effective.
I’m not talking about emails. Or content. Or automation.
I mean using AI to prepare for real conversations.
The kind that actually matter:
- sponsorship discussions
- board dynamics
- negotiations
- difficult one-on-one conversations
So what changed, and where does AI actually make a difference?
Where AI Actually Helps Most
When people talk about AI in business, the conversation usually revolves around efficiency.
Writing emails faster. Summarizing documents. Generating content.
All of that is useful.
But it’s not where the real leverage is.
The real leverage shows up before the conversation even happens.
Because that’s where most outcomes are decided.
The Difference Isn’t During the Conversation
At this point, we all know how powerful AI can be in the moment.
“Write me a blog, email, or LinkedIn post.”
“Find me a good Italian restaurant close by.”
“How do I deal with this weed in my garden?”
Powerful, yes, but that’s not where the biggest impact lies.
The biggest shift has been in how I prepare before the moment.
Before a meeting, I’ll take a few minutes to think through:
- what the other person actually cares about
- where they might push back
- what objections could come up
- how different approaches might land
Not in a theoretical way.
In a practical, scenario-based way.
What happens if I say this?
How might they respond?
What’s the better way to position it?
That level of preparation changes how you show up.
A Real Example
At the chamber, I’ve been putting a stronger focus on securing sponsorships over the past year.
In one case, we were dealing with an organization that had been around the Chamber for a long time, but had never fully engaged.
There were concerns. Misconceptions. Some frustration about how things had been handled in the past.
Those conversations could have gone in a lot of different directions.
Instead of walking in and reacting, I used AI to think through the conversation in advance:
- what their perspective likely was
- where the friction points existed
- how to acknowledge concerns without reinforcing them
- how to reposition the value in a way that actually resonated
The result wasn’t just a better conversation.
It was a different relationship.
That organization is now actively involved, engaged at a higher level, and finalizing a full sponsorship package.
That didn’t happen by accident.
AI didn’t replace the conversation.
It helped me prepare for it.
This Isn’t About Scripts
This isn’t about generating scripts or memorizing responses.
In fact, that would probably make things worse.
It’s about thinking more clearly before you walk into the room.
It’s about seeing perspectives you might not have considered, particularly other people’s.
It’s about pressure-testing your approach before it matters.
The conversation is still human.
But the preparation is stronger.
Even Strong Communicators Have Misses
Most executives I work with are already strong communicators.
That’s part of how they got where they are.
But that doesn’t mean every conversation goes the way they expect.
We’ve all had moments where:
- something didn’t land the way we thought it would
- a conversation got more defensive than expected
- an opportunity stalled without a clear reason
- the other person had different assumptions going in
Those aren’t communication failures.
They’re preparation gaps.
And that’s where I’ve found AI to be surprisingly effective.
The Bigger Shift
The biggest realization for me has been this:
AI is so much more than a productivity tool.
It’s a thinking tool.
Used the right way, it doesn’t replace human interaction.
It strengthens it.
Because you’re not walking into conversations guessing.
You’re walking in with a clearer understanding of how things might play out, and how to respond.
Why This Matters
If your role involves:
- leading teams
- working with boards
- negotiating partnerships
- building relationships
Then your outcomes are tied to conversations.
Not tasks.
Not outputs.
Conversations.
And if you can improve how you prepare for those conversations, even slightly, the impact compounds quickly.
What I’m Seeing
After about 18 months of intentionally testing this in real situations, one thing is clear:
When you prepare differently, you get different outcomes.
Using AI to prepare and forecast has led to more contract signatures, better relationships, and a stronger understanding of true mutual benefit.
In one case, after using AI to prep for what I knew was going to be a difficult conversation, the person thanked me for how I’d handled it.
Thanked me.
At Momentum AI, we’ve never had as strong a quarter as we did in Q1 2026, and we’re excited about Q2, Q3, and Q4.
Does this process guarantee success every time? Of course not.
But often enough that it’s hard to ignore.
I’ve been sharing more of this in small, working sessions with executives and leaders who want to apply it in real situations.
If you’re in a role where conversations drive outcomes, this will be worth your time.
I’m running a live session for executive decision-makers on April 14 where I’ll walk through exactly how I approach this. You can find the details here.