Managers can now get an always-on artificial intelligence (AI) coach that brings in a human coach when the situation calls for it, under a new offering from EZRA, the enterprise coaching arm of the Adecco Group.
The product, called EZRA Loop, pairs a dedicated coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) with Cai, an AI development partner that remembers past conversations, priorities and organizational context. The company describes it as the first fully connected human and AI coaching experience.
As AI becomes part of everyday work, managers face growing pressure to lead change, handle complexity and develop their teams, yet coaching remains out of reach for most employees, according to EZRA. Loop is meant to give managers coaching support in the flow of their work, the company said.
“As AI changes how work gets done, organizations need to bring their people along with them,” said Denis Machuel, CEO of the Adecco Group. “Loop shows how human expertise and AI support can work together to make coaching more accessible, in the flow of work. This is an excellent example of how to leverage technology, while retaining a human touch, judgement and trust that only people can provide.”
“In the hybrid – human-AI – workplace, it is essential to intentionally design how people and technology interact,” said Machuel.
The design draws on EZRA’s findings that AI and human coaches each work best in different areas. The company analyzed more than a million coaching sessions with 200,000 people at customers including Microsoft, Spotify, Mastercard, HSBC, Eli Lilly and KPMG.
AI support outperformed human coaches on task skills such as prioritization and goal setting, while human coaches did better on interpersonal skills such as emotional intelligence and executive presence, according to EZRA. Used together, the two produced a 37 per cent greater chance of behaviour change than either alone, the company said.
Teams led by coached managers also resolved customer problems 18 per cent faster, according to research cited by the company.
EZRA was founded in 2019 as part of the Adecco Group. It works with 4,500 ICF-accredited coaches and has delivered coaching in 120 countries and 75 languages.
The Adecco Group is based in Zurich and operates in 60 countries through its Adecco, Akkodis and LHH business units.
