Artificial Intelligence Drives Authentic Interaction

First of all, this is not an AI think piece. I am by no means an AI thought leader. I use AI in various forms, and I am learning more every day. Like many of you, I think about how new tools and services change our lives. I am neither an AI doomsdayer nor someone who thinks it will fix all the ills of the world. But one thing I do believe is that AI is forcing us to punch through the mindlessness of online scrolling, think more critically (not less) about the content we produce and consume, and be more intentional about building trust in the spaces where we operate and authenticity in the interactions we choose to have.

As I write this, I am in an airport waiting to fly home after almost two weeks of continuous travel. It is a lot! But my observation is that travel for learning, sharing, teaching, business connections, and more is happening more often, at least in my world. We will never get rid of the remote advances hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and that is a good thing. Our patients have better access to services. As a profession, we have a wider potential impact and opportunities that would not exist without the tools and culture that facilitate remote engagement.

At the same time, I think the desire for connection, alongside the rise of technology-mediated interaction, has made in-person engagement feel more important again. Or perhaps it has made us more aware of the value of meaningful and purposeful engagement, wherever it happens.

I wrote about our Annual Conference last month and am eagerly anticipating it, now just a little over a week away. I won't reiterate all the reasons why gathering is so important and satisfying, but when it comes to authentic interaction, it is hard to beat.

The value of perspective

Apart from conferences, I also greatly appreciate Perspectives because it does exactly that: provides perspective. It is a true mosaic of experiences, values, voices, and contributions, brought together by a desire to share, learn, and engage with our community of genetic counselors.

There can be authenticity. And that authenticity builds trust, interest, and engagement. The articles make us feel, help us understand, and support empathy for one another.

You may have noticed that I put "can be" in italics. That's because Perspectives is not immune to AI slop. We have examined, updated, and tightened editorial oversight in response to the impact of AI that is poorly used. But that is the exception, not the rule. I am so grateful for the editors, the authors who genuinely share their insights, and the many of you who take the time to read and reflect on these articles.

Very few articles become irrelevant, and the topics are wonderfully diverse. Keep an eye out for an upcoming opportunity to explore the archive. In particular, look for a collection of Perspectives articles called Mosaic, highlighting some of the great pieces from the past year. You might find something that challenges your thinking, introduces you to a new perspective, or simply reminds you of something important about our profession.

And think about how you might contribute. Your experience, your expertise, your questions, and your story are all part of the mosaic. Authenticity doesn't mean every contribution has to be groundbreaking. It means bringing something genuine to the conversation.

A few invitations

Here is my call to action to all of you. Or rather, a few invitations:

• If you're attending the Annual Conference, connect with someone you wouldn't otherwise meet. That includes connecting with me! Our Board members, NSGC staff, and colleagues from Faegre Drinker will be at the NSGC booth. You have an open invitation to stop me in the exhibit hall, chat over coffee, or grab me between sessions. Don't be shy. Some of the best conversations happen when we make the effort to introduce ourselves.
• Spend some time with Perspectives. Explore the archive and the Mosaic collection. Read something outside your usual area of interest. And consider how your voice, your story, or your perspective might add to that mosaic
• Reflect on how you're connecting authentically with others in the genetic counseling community. Are you making space for different perspectives? Are you sharing your own experiences? Are you building relationships beyond your immediate circle?
• Tell us how NSGC can do more to support those connections. If you have an idea, suggestion, or insight, please send a quick email to memberfeedback@nsgc.org. Leadership reads every single one of those emails each month. They don't disappear into a black hole! As we head into a strategic planning year in 2027, member feedback is a critical and highly valued input. This is an opportunity to help shape what comes next

AI is accelerating a question that was already important: In a world where we can produce and consume an almost limitless amount of content, what makes us stop, pay attention, believe someone, and genuinely engage?

I know this really isn't just about AI. It's about trust: building it, sustaining it, and sharing it. It's about making the effort to connect with people, to listen, to learn, and to contribute something meaningful.

For me, I don't see business travel slowing down any time soon, and I am grateful for the opportunities to have authentic interactions in person. At the same time, I'll keep looking for ever-better ways to use technology to connect with people who might otherwise be outside my reach.

Let's keep showing up for one another, in whatever ways we can.

Let's go!!

Conceptualized and written by Carrie. Copy editing by both AI and human reviewers.

NSGC stands for National Society OF Genetic Counselors, not FOR Genetic Counselors

What is NSGC? We are NSGC. I am NSGC. You are NSGC. 

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Conceptualized and written by Carrie. Copy editing by both AI and human reviewers.

 

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