Tech leaders warn of social deficit in AI-driven world

As artificial intelligence (AI) permeates daily life and reshapes industries, telecom executives and thought leaders at the 21st Asian Carriers Conference (ACC 2025) warned that societies risk losing the very fabric of human connection in pursuit of technological progress.

- Ehda M. Dagooc Staff Member

At the Strategy Summit themed “Humanity Unplugged: Rethinking Connection in a Digital World,” keynote speaker Simone Heng — a human connection specialist and author who has advised global firms including Google, Meta, and Salesforce — urged industry leaders to prioritize “social health” alongside digital innovation.

“Technology may connect us faster and wider, but authentic connection requires presence, vulnerability, and empathy,” Heng told delegates, highlighting what she described as an emerging “social deficit” in workplaces and communities.