Looking for real results in corporate wellness? Perhaps it’s time to try artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is computer technology that mimics human thinking and capabilities. And as the AI industry grows, so does the complexity of “thinking” by these machines. Suffice it to say, each new iteration of AI gets closer and closer to thinking, seeing, hearing and working as intelligently as the human brain.

So how does AI fit into corporate wellness?

The Positives of Putting AI To Work

By its nature, AI is capable of lightening the load on workers by assuming administrative tasks often considered repetitive and time-consuming (calendar management and research, for instance). Other applications for AI include data mining, financial reporting, email drafting and basic customer support. A recent survey found that AI saves employees an average of 1.75 hours daily. Turning some functions over to a computer so employees can focus their time, energy and hours on the more creative, innovative and problem-solving responsibilities of their jobs – often the more fulfilling and engaging work – could prove instrumental to improving employee morale and productivity rates.

Other Ways AI Works for Wellness

Beyond easing employee workloads by automating tasks, AI can be helpful with identifying, combatting and measuring stress, burnout and other health risks in the workplace. And while it can never replace a real live human’s ability to connect with and assist people who might be struggling, AI offers employers a range of tools for recognizing and meeting the wellness needs of their employees.

Applications for AI in a wellness program include:

1. Chatbots. Sometimes employees hesitate to address the stress of work and other mental health concerns with a manager. An AI-powered chatbot, however, lets employees ask health-related questions, get guidance, and find mental health support without the fear of judgment that might come with talking to a superior or confiding in a coworker. Chatbots also can be made available 24/7, which enables employers to meet the needs of employees in real time rather than only during working hours.
2. Personalization. Among AI’s strengths is its ability to process significant amounts of data and churn out recommendations at an extremely fast pace. As a result, employers have an opportunity to offer individualized wellness programming and recommendations based on personal information like health data, preferences, and behaviors garnered from surveys, wellness apps, wearables and other means. Wellness looks different for everyone, and cookie-cutter plans don’t address everyone’s needs. With AI, employers can quickly and easily create more effective solutions geared toward the individual.
3. Risk detection. AI offers us insight into physical and mental health like never before. Data generated from wearable health trackers can be analyzed for anomalies and alert wearers to underlying or new problems. Additionally, through natural language processing, AI is capable of filtering through office communications (e.g. surveys, emails and instant-messages/chats) to identify stress, burnout and other mental health concerns and alert appropriate persons who can then intervene. More recent advances in speech recognition have empowered AI to even detect stress in voices.
4. Measuring effectiveness. Because AI analyzes data at unprecedented speed, frequency and detail, it’s easier to measure the success of corporate wellness efforts. Through AI algorithms that rely on metrics from a variety of sources (e.g., wearable technologies, apps, surveys and virtual assistant chat logs), employers can obtain stats on program effectiveness, future trends, and opportunities for adjustment.

While it can never replace the role of human interaction and intervention, AI is a useful tool for promoting and even gauging wellness in the workplace. Whether you incorporate it in a way that gives employees more time to focus on the engaging and satisfying work of their jobs or use it to bolster your wellness programming directly, AI has the potential to advance health and well-being in a real way.

As an innovator in the corporate wellness industry for nearly three decades, Aquila offers a suite of digital resources including a proprietary mobile app and AI-backed services. If you’re interested in tapping into AI and other technologies to improve health and wellness outcomes at your own workplace, contact us for more information.