This past week, an unexpected headline caught my attention. Starbucks, once lauded for its bold AI ambitions, is making a quiet U-turn. After announcing plans in 2020 to streamline operations using artificial intelligence and reduce staff numbers, the coffee giant now seems to be reconsidering the role of humans in their stores.

The shift is subtle, but telling.

While AI promised efficiency, predictability, and speed, something important was overlooked. And perhaps, something deeper was remembered: people don’t come to Starbucks just for the coffee. They come for a feeling. A moment of warmth. A conversation. A familiar face behind the counter who remembers your name, or your drink, or simply looks you in the eye.

The rhythm of a café hums with more than machinery. It hums with life. Connection.

And this is where the parallel with coaching became clear.

Like a barista offering more than a latte, a coach offers more than tools or questions. There is a relational alchemy, a resonance between beings, that no software can replicate. AI can enhance the journey, streamline scheduling, track progress, and even spark insight, but it cannot replace the sacredness of being witnessed by another human being.

Perhaps Starbucks, in its recalibration, is reminding all of us of something we’ve always known but sometimes forget: we are wired for connection.

As AI becomes more capable and more present in our daily lives, the question is not whether it can replace humans. It’s whether we’ll remember what only humans can truly offer.

Warmth. Energy. Enthusiasm. Presence.

So, whether you're holding space in a coaching session or holding a cappuccino across the counter, may we remember: it’s not just the service. It’s the soul behind it.