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AI Could Never......Grounding in What Makes our Work Human

In August 2025, we shared a blog post about how we are grappling with the complexity of bringing AI into our work at Roots & Rivers. As part of this exploration, we have been taking time to reflect on what makes us (and our work) truly human.


In that spirit, we launched our LinkedIn series, “AI could never,” to ground ourselves in the essential, irreplaceable parts of our work: empathy, connection, judgment, and care. It has been great to see how strongly this series resonated with people.


To make these reflections easier to revisit and share, we have compiled the full series into this blog post for easy reference.


  1. AI Could Never.......Artfully Facilitation


A group of professionals sits in a circle during a meeting or workshop. Two women in the foreground are smiling and engaged in conversation, while others listen attentively. The text overlay reads: "AI Could Never... Reflections On The Art of Facilitation." The Roots & Rivers logo is in the bottom left corner.

AI might be good at analyzing a meeting transcript for keywords. But it can't feel the subtle shift in energy when a difficult topic is raised.


It can't notice the participant who is hesitant to speak, validate the courage it took for someone to share a dissenting opinion, or sense the emerging consensus in a breakout group before a single word is reported back. And while AI might help draft a meeting agenda, it can’t anticipate the moment when the group needs to pause for reflection or pivot because what truly matters has just surfaced.


That is the irreplaceable art of facilitation.


It’s the human ability to sense the unspoken, create psychological safety, and guide a group through complex emotional terrain to find clarity. Technology can support the process, but the heart of true collaboration will always be human.


  1. AI Could Never.......Understand Lived Experience


Feet partially buried in soft white sand. Overlaid text reads: 'AI Could Never... Understand Lived Experience.' Logo at the bottom says 'Roots & Rivers.'

AI can process millions of data points and identify demographic trends.

 

But it cannot feel the weight of that data. It has no understanding of the systemic barriers, cultural context, or personal history behind a statistic. It can't comprehend the resilience, joy, and wisdom held by a community.

 

This is why an equity-centered approach to strategy and research must always be human-led. It requires us to listen deeply, honour the expertise of those most impacted, and bring an intersectional lens that data alone can't provide.

 

Data tells us the "what." People's stories tell us the "so what." We need both, and leading with humanity is always key.


  1. AI Could Never.......Build Trust Over a Cup of Coffee


Three people clink coffee cups together in a friendly toast. Two lattes with heart-shaped foam art and one dark beverage are visible. Text on the image reads, “AI Could Never… Build Trust Over a Cup of Coffee.” Roots & Rivers logo appears at the bottom.

AI can draft emails, schedule meetings, and take meeting notes with efficiency.

 

But it can't share a moment of laughter that breaks the ice during a project kick-off.


It can't listen with empathy to a client’s concerns about their community. It can't show up with consistent care and thoughtful advice, year after year.

 

That is the work of building relationships.


It’s the slow, steady, and essential foundation of every successful project and partnership we undertake. 


  1. AI Could Never.......Sit with Ambiguity


Person with backpack stands at forest path crossroads. Text: "AI Could Never... Sit With Ambiguity." Lush green trees surround them.

AI can analyze market trends, predict outcomes, and suggest optimal pathways based on vast datasets.

But it can't sit with ambiguity. It can't sense an emerging opportunity that defies current logic, or feel a deep intuition about a strategic direction that data hasn't yet proven. It doesn't have the "aha!" moment born from years of experience and deep understanding of a sector's nuances.

 

That's human strategic intuition.


It's the unique blend of pattern recognition, emotional intelligence, and creative foresight that allows leaders to navigate uncertainty and make bold, impactful decisions that technology alone simply can't generate.


  1. AI Could Never.......Capture the True Essence of a Story


Silhouette of hands framing a sunset. Text: "AI Could Never... Capture the True Essence of a Story." Logo: Roots & Rivers.

AI can generate persuasive copy, rephrase sentences, and adapt tone for different audiences.

 

But it can't truly understand the subtle nuances of human emotion, the lived experience woven into a narrative, or the authentic voice that makes a story resonate deep within our shared humanity. It lacks the soul required to truly connect.

 

Crafting a compelling narrative for impact requires empathy, authenticity, and knowing the heartbeat of the community you serve. It requires bringing truth to life in a way that AI cannot replicate.


  1. AI Could Never.......Speak Truth to Power


People hold protest signs in a crowd. Prominent text: "If you are free, you need to free somebody else." Mood is empowering.

AI can process legal documents, draft policy briefs, and summarize arguments for advocacy campaigns.

 

But it can't feel moral outrage. It can't speak truth to power, persist in the face of injustice, or rally a community around a shared vision of a more equitable world. It has no ethical compass, no inherent sense of justice.

 

Advocacy is fundamentally human. It's about courage, conviction, and an unshakeable belief in the dignity and rights of all people. It's the deep-seated commitment to drive change, even when it's hard.


As we continue to experiment with AI as a tool, we remain clear that the work that matters most, building trust, holding complexity, and advancing equity, will always depend on human presence, judgment, and care.

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