Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and Emory studied how workers and managers feel about AI digital twins of bosses attending meetings and handling managerial tasks. After interviewing 23 participants about speculative scenarios, they found widespread resistance: both managers and workers are uncomfortable with the idea. Key concerns include accountability gaps, erosion of trust and authenticity, surveillance fears, and job displacement anxiety. While some supportive roles were identified (proxy presence, routine task automation), the consensus is that AI clones are only palatable as assistants, not substitutes. A minority of workers, however, welcomed the idea if it could dismantle traditional power hierarchies.
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