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Communication lies at the heart of every successful organization, but in today's information-saturated workplace, getting messages to resonate has never been more challenging. Frank Gauld CPTO @ Poppulo reveals a startling paradox: while companies are struggling to connect with their workforce despite more communication tools than ever, employees are simultaneously craving deeper connection and belonging.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Poppulo's employee communications platform reaches about 50 million people daily, with companies sending over 2.2 billion messages last year. Yet their research shows only 45% of communicators believe their change messaging is effective. Why? Information overload has employees tuning out generic communications from email, chat apps, and digital signage. Meanwhile, landmark research indicates that belonging—not pay or flexibility—is the primary driver of employee wellbeing and productivity.
Artificial Intelligence is emerging as the bridge between these disconnected worlds. For often under-resourced internal communicators, AI offers productivity enhancements through features like auto-translation, content generation that maintains brand voice, and sophisticated analytics. Frank shares how Poppulo's upcoming "analyze agent" will use semantic interfaces to make communications data more accessible, while future iterations aim to proactively assess message impact before sending. The most exciting potential lies in AI's ability to close the feedback loop between "voice of the company" and "voice of the employee," creating truly resonant communications.
Looking toward the future, Frank suggests we're on the cusp of a fundamental shift in human-computer interaction. Just as Steve Jobs' visit to Xerox PARC revolutionized interfaces through the GUI, agentic AI may move us beyond traditional desktop metaphors toward something entirely new. As he puts it with a smile, these AI agents are like "minions" with specialized skills—and they're already transforming how organizations connect with their people in meaningful ways.
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