The episode opens with their first encounters with AI: Emma’s Spotify-generated playlist that somehow predicted her obscure 80s indie favourites, and Lee’s ill-fated attempt at AI-generated portraits that looked spectacular… and nothing like him. The stories are funny, but they also signal something deeper - that AI isn’t just impressive; it’s evolving faster than we can keep up with.

From there, the discussion moves to the big question:

What happens when AI becomes good at the very tasks internal communicators used to define as “their expertise”?

Emma and Lee explore AI’s growing capability: drafting content, writing comms plans, rewriting scripts, analysing sentiment and personalising messages. All the familiar, output-heavy work of “old IC” can now be done in seconds.

But rather than seeing this as loss, they frame it as a long-awaited opportunity — because removing that routine, mechanical work doesn’t erase the communicator’s value; it exposes it. Indeed, this is the core belief at the heart of their book, People-First Internal Communication.

AI can produce words, but it can’t read a room.
It can’t sense politics, interpret culture, or navigate power.
It can’t spot when something feels off, even if the copy looks perfect.
It can’t build trust, repair relationships or fight for fairness.


These are the deeply human capabilities that have always set great internal communicators apart — and Track 5 argues that AI clears the space for practitioners to finally operate where they make the greatest difference.

Emma and Lee also reflect on the “perfect storm” that made this shift possible: post-pandemic changes in employee expectations, a new psychological contract at work, and the sudden mainstreaming of AI tools into everyday workflows. Together, these forces pushed the profession to a crossroads: evolve intentionally, or risk being sidelined.

What’s striking, they note, is how quickly communicators have embraced the change. A year ago, the conversation was defensive - focused on what AI could “never do.” Now, the tone is far more experimental and optimistic, with people eager to partner with AI rather than compete with it.

And of course, in true Stuck Record style, the episode is laced with the humour and humility that keep Emma and Lee grounded. Emma revisits her frantic supermarket dash to secure matching C-suite shirts, an unexpected stint as nanny to a celebrity guest’s child, and Lee recounts an Aussie-themed “Sundowner” event that spiralled into full-blown immersive theatre. These stories underline a simple truth: internal comms has always been chaotic, creative, human work - and that’s exactly why AI can’t do it alone.

At its core, Track 5 makes a clear and compelling case:

AI can accelerate internal communication, but only humans can elevate it.

For anyone curious, hopeful or sceptical about AI’s impact on IC, this episode offers a grounded, optimistic and practical perspective on what comes next.

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms.