How Virtual Coffee and Check-ins Build Connection

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AI in HR tech is evolving fast, but not always meaningfully. Emre Ok shares how to separate hype from real innovation, why context matters more than features, and how remote teams can stay connected in a world of AI-generated feedback. This episode explores practical ways leaders can use AI to enhance - not replace - human connection at work.

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/760   

🎙️ What you’ll learn 

• How to evaluate AI tools for real business impact
• Ways to use AI to improve performance reviews and feedback
• Why context-aware AI agents are the future of HR tech
• How remote teams can build stronger connections
• What leaders should ask before adopting new AI solutions

✅ Highlights 

• “Is the tech you're implementing making your employees lonelier?”
• “You might as well just go to ChatGPT on another browser.”
• “We didn’t want to do it just to put a sparkly AI icon on our website.”
• “Performance reviews get such a bad rep, especially when they're an Excel spreadsheet.”
• “If it has context, if it knows your people, that's when it's real.”
• “The talent pool is global now—and that’s both exciting and frightening.”
• “Checking for bias is always an option.”
• “Copilot didn’t live up to the hype—but it’s getting there.”
• “The office just isn’t a necessity anymore.”
• “You don’t want to force it, but you want to encourage it.”
• “The more AI adapts to how people work, the better it gets.”
• “It’s harder to detach from work when your bedroom is also your corner office.”

🧰 Mentioned 

•  Microsoft Teams - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app
• TeamFlect - https://teamflect.com/
• Microsoft Copilot - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/for-individuals/
• ChatGPT by OpenAI - https://chatgpt.com/

✅Keywords  
ai in hr tech, remote work, performance reviews, microsoft teams, copilot, employee engagement, feedback tools, bias detection, teamflect, chatgpt, hr software, workplace technology  

Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption

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Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith