---
id: "concept-positive-friction"
type: "concept"
source_timestamps: ["§ How to Ensure AI Doesn’t Weaken Human Connections"]
tags: ["ai-design", "context-engineering", "prompt-engineering"]
related: ["action-design-ai-provocations", "framework-five-measures-human-connection", "entity-salesforce"]
definition: "Intentional design elements or AI-generated prompts that interrupt seamless AI reliance, pushing users to engage in critical thinking or consult human colleagues."
sources: ["adoption"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-adoption"
originDay: 9
articleStem: "hbr-sig-53-ai-personal-support-risky"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/05/employees-are-relying-on-ai-for-personal-support-thats-risky"
sourceTitle: "Employees Are Relying on AI for Personal Support. That’s Risky."
---
# Positive Friction / AI Provocations

Positive friction is an intentional design strategy in AI systems that prevents users from taking the path of least resistance (relying solely on the AI) and instead routes them toward human interaction or independent critical thinking.

In the workplace this is implemented via **AI provocations** — socially oriented prompts generated by the AI itself. Instead of simply providing a ready-made answer, the AI is configured to suggest collaboration. For example:

> "While I can draft an approach, I recommend you speak with Priya on the pricing team; she has handled this account. Shall I introduce you?"

Alternatively, the AI might insert the names of potential human reviewers into a project plan and provide a checklist of questions to ask them. The goal is to use the AI as a **routing mechanism that knits coworkers together**, rather than a silo that isolates them.

This concept is the design principle behind the action [[action-design-ai-provocations]] and is the third of the [[framework-five-measures-human-connection]]. It complements the governance approach of [[entity-salesforce-d9]], whose *human-in-the-loop mandate* defines when AI must yield to human contact.

**Enrichment context:** Conceptually strong. Though "AI provocations" as a named practice is novel, it aligns with emerging human-in-the-loop and collaboration-first paradigms in responsible-AI and product design, where systems are deliberately built to augment rather than replace human coordination.