Will AI replace external affairs specialists?

Why AI struggles to replace this job

• Building influence with government officials relies on long-term personal trust and reciprocity.
• Crisis communication requires a level of empathy and rapid moral judgment that AI lacks.
• AI cannot physically attend community meetings or represent an organization at public events.
• Strategic alliances are often formed in informal, social settings where AI cannot participate.

Tasks AI could automate

• Monitoring news and social media for mentions of the organization.
• Generating initial drafts of press releases or newsletters.
• Analyzing legislative data to identify relevant bills for the organization.
• Managing contact databases and tracking interaction history.

The 10-year outlook

Growth is expected to be positive as organizations face more public scrutiny. The role will increasingly focus on high-level strategy and 'human-touch' diplomacy rather than basic communications.

Common questions