Guest post by Sahil Nayar

Let’s face it, most of us have Googled “How to have a difficult conversation with my boss without losing my job?” at least once.

And if you haven’t, congratulations, you either work with saints or you are the boss who needs the coaching!

Now imagine having a coach who’s available 24×7, doesn’t judge you for asking, “How do I sound confident without sounding like a know-it-all?”, and speaks your language, literally and emotionally.

Welcome to AI in Coaching: the hottest workplace romance since coffee met Monday mornings.

So, what’s brewing between AI and Coaching?

A few years ago, coaching was an elite privilege, reserved for CXOs, with bills that looked like your annual bonus (pre-tax).

But 2025 has flipped the script. AI-powered coaches like Nadia (WPP’s favourite), Aimy (HubSpot’s companion), and BetterUp’s Grow are making coaching accessible, scalable, and yes, surprisingly human.

Let’s pause here. I know what you’re thinking:

“AI can’t coach me. Coaching is about emotions, empathy, and a human touch.”

And you’re right, mostly. AI isn’t here to replace your coach with a chatbot that says “Sounds tough, buddy” after every sentence. Instead, it’s here to augment the experience. Think of AI as the Siri of self-improvement, minus the sass (for now).

The Manager Who Never Had Time

Picture this: A first-time manager, Rahul, juggling targets, team tantrums, and his own existential dread. He knows he needs help, he even bookmarked that Harvard Business Review article titled “How to Lead When You’re Drowning”.

But does he have time for a two-hour session with an executive coach? Nope.

Enter AI coaching bots. Rahul logs in at 11:47 pm after his kid finally stops asking “Papa, where do babies come from?”

Aimy pops up with a role-play on “How to give feedback without sounding like a villain.” Rahul practices, gets instant tips, and shows up the next morning like a TEDx speaker with KPI charts.

What Makes AI Coaching So Addictive?

• Always On, unlike your human coach who’s on vacation in Bali, AI is available at 3 am when you’re having an identity crisis.
• Judgment-Free Zone, You can ask the dumbest question without hearing, “That’s interesting… tell me more.” (Coach Language for “Are you serious?”).
• Multilingual & Cultural Context, Got a global team? AI speaks Spanish, Mandarin, and Corporate Jargon 101 fluently.
• Cost-Effective, Cheaper than your monthly Starbucks bill.

But Is It All Rosy?

Not really. Let’s address the elephant in the Zoom room: Can AI replace humans in coaching? The short answer: No.

AI can simulate conversations, provide frameworks, and even remember your last meltdown better than your spouse. But when it comes to reading that sigh in your voice or understanding why you froze in a meeting, humans still rule.

That’s why the new trend is Hybrid Coaching, AI handles the grunt work (reminders, resources, role-plays), while human coaches handle the deep emotional stuff. It’s like having Alexa book your therapy appointment.

An Anecdote from Corporate Life

During a workshop last month, I asked a room full of mid-managers:

“If you had a 24×7 coach in your pocket, what’s the first question you’d ask?”

One guy said:

“How do I make my boss like me without looking desperate?”

AI could give him ten strategies instantly. A human coach? Might ask, “Why do you want to be liked instead of respected?”

Both are valuable, but see the difference? One gives you hacks, the other gives you healing.

What Does This Mean for You?

• If you’re an employee: Stop waiting for your company to sponsor a $10K coaching program. AI is your entry ticket.
• If you’re a coach: Don’t fear AI, partner with it. Let AI handle content, and you handle context.
• If you’re a leader: Coaching culture just got scalable. No excuses. Coach now!

As I conclude

AI in coaching is not about replacing human wisdom, it’s about making growth accessible, affordable, and yes, a little less intimidating. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a chatbot or a real coach, the goal is the same: help you show up as your best self, even on Mondays.

So, next time you’re stuck before a big presentation, don’t just ask Google. Ask your AI coach. (And maybe your human one too.) 😊

Over to You

Would you trust an AI coach with your career? Or do you still need a human to say, “You’ve got this!” If you need a human coach, I would love to chat with you, whether it’s about your transition from college to the corporate world, your layoff, your new corporate job, should I start on my own, how do I prepare for my next promotion or should I retire now and make my money work for me, we got you. Let’s chat.

You can book time with me here, the only AI in all of this would be your calendar being blocked, WhatsApp reminders and feedback post the call.

Written by Sahil Nayar, an HR leader, TedX Speaker and Certified Coach. If you would like to speak to Sahil Nayar, he is available for a 1 on 1 consultation on Sprect.