BT found AI that pushes back helps people set better goals than AI that agrees
A BT Group trial of 2,400 people, reported in HBR, found that an AI tool built to challenge employees toward more ambitious, specific goals produced about three and a half times as many excellent goals as default AI, without lowering enjoyment or psychological safety. On Monday, pick one workflow where people draft with AI, such as goal-setting or a proposal review, set the assistant to question the draft before it polishes it, and measure the result rather than how pleasant the exchange felt.
Source: Harvard Business Review, Nov 4, 2026 · What Sycophantic AI Can Cost Your Organization ↗ · Approved by Reggie
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