AI has consistently been one of the most talked-about topics in the coaching industry.
Many coaches ask whether they should integrate it into their processes, while others are (rightly or wrongly) fearful that this could be the first nail in the coffin for human coaches.
Of course, as coaches, we know that it’s not usually our job to advise our clients what to do.
However, any experienced coach understands that not only do clients sometimes want our advice, but the public’s perception of us is still very much that we advise people.
To help determine the public’s perception of AI Coaches, we asked 2,017 people whether they would prefer human or AI advice on different life topics, providing them with an AI-generated version and a real-life example.
Respondents were first asked whether they preferred human or AI advice on a selection of different topics (relationships, business, careers, etc.).
Then, they were presented with two pieces of advice, one from AI and one written by an established life coach, and asked to pick their favourite answer out of the two.
Key Findings
- 73.33% of Brits said they would prefer human advice for relationships
- But on all categories, the AI advice was more commonly chosen as advice Brits would rather listen to
- Belfast residents chose AI advice more than any other city
- On the relationship question over half (51.31%) chose AI advice, in comparison to just over 1 in 6 (15.47%) for human advice
- Business was the topic that had the most people selecting AI (13.83%)
- More men thought they would prefer AI in comparison to women, but when given the options selected the human answer more
To see the full list of answers offered in the survey, click here.
When surveyed on whether they would prefer human or AI advice on different life topics, human advice won by a landslide, ranging from almost two-thirds (62.96%) on business advice to nearly three-quarters (73.33%) on relationship advice.
How can I communicate my needs and desires effectively in a new relationship to avoid repeating past mistakes?
Despite nearly three quarters (73.33%) of Brits saying they would prefer human advice when it came to relationships, when given examples of advice, over half (52.31%) chose the AI answer and just over 1 in 6 (15.47%) selected human.
The over 55’s were adamant that they would pick human advice on this topic (81.99%), but when given the choice a huge 50.38% picked AI vs only 6.80% of them selecting the human response.
Residents of Norwich were the most swayed with the AI answer on this topic (61.04%). This suggests that many of us don’t know the difference between humans or robots when presented with real-world situations.
How can I stay motivated and focused during the early stages of building my business?
Out of all the questions asked, respondents were most torn between the AI vs human advice surrounding the business topic.
The AI answer was chosen by just over a third of respondents (34.41%) in comparison to just under a third for human advice (31.38%).
When it comes to the splits in demographics, the survey found that 35-44 year olds most commonly preferred the AI answer (39.25%), with 42.30% of 25-34 year olds preferring humans.
Cardiff had a big interest towards the AI answer with just under half (44%) selecting this option. Both options gave clear actionable advice when it came to the business topic, which suggests the need to be directed rather than being led to the solution ourselves.
I’m struggling with work-life balance. How can I better manage my time and priorities?
Respondents felt that the AI answer resonated with them more for the question surrounding careers, with just over two-fifths (40.60%) choosing AI and less than a quarter (24.05%) choosing the human response.
Almost half (45.92%) of 25 to 34 year olds preferred AI alongside over half (50.91%) of the residents of Plymouth.
I’ve been trying to establish a consistent exercise routine for years but always seem to fall off track after a few weeks. How can I create lasting healthy habits?
Despite 67.53% of respondents stating they would prefer human advice to AI on health and fitness topics, when given the two options, over two-fifths (44.12%) chose AI. Less than a quarter (21.12%) of this number selected humans in this category. The people of Norwich felt that the AI answer hit the nail on the head more with over half (53.25%) choosing this option, whereas more than a quarter of Londoners (25.3%) felt the human answer was better suited.
How can I build my self-confidence and believe in myself more?
Self confidence is a rather personal topic, but it seemed the trend stayed clear with over two fifths of respondents (43.98%) preferring the AI answer, in comparison to the 22.01% who found the human answer to help them more.
London and Brighton found the human answer the most helpful, at 26.09%, compared to Liverpool, where only 10.99% chose humans.
The regional split shows that maybe northerners prefer a more gentle approach that AI provided on this topic, in comparison to the southerners who resonated with the realistic approach of admitting that work is needed.
The business coach shares his insights on the results of this survey:
“The survey results are very interesting and show a clear gap in people thinking they would rather a human coach versus AI giving them advice. Understandably, most people have more trust in a human helping them on these big life topics, but when it came down to it, they preferred the more direct approach of AI, which provided them with clearer guidelines in comparison to a trained coach who is going to ask questions and help guide you through your problems.
What this means for coaches is that you shouldn’t take a blanket approach to every client you work with. This study has highlighted the regional, age, and gender differences in taking advice, so ensure you’re personalising and adapting your approach on a case-by-case basis.