AI-solation: Avoiding a lonely workforce epidemic

People working with AI are feeling increasingly isolated from their colleagues. Not surprising, perhaps: instead of talking to their peers when they have a question, employees are asking generative AI and getting an answer within seconds.

But AI productivity tools aren't going anywhere. According to a Goldman Sachs report, companies are poised to spend more than US$1tn on AI capex in the coming years.

There's clearly a balance to be struck here. AI can allow workforces to focus on more meaningful, strategic work that stimulates growth. But how can employers support their teams' wellbeing and make the most of new technologies as they shake up the workplace?

Too much AI is damaging our health

As AI becomes part of more and more workflows, we're starting to see unintended consequences - and there are some that should alarm business leaders.

Research shows that employees who use AI in their roles the most feel more lonely than their colleagues, and this is leading to insomnia and more alcohol consumption after work. And medical experts warn that AI-enabled 'social disconnection' increases the risk of heart disease, dementia and stroke.

Given the promise of technology, we need to avoid a scenario where businesses feel forced to choose between looking after their workers' wellbeing and continuing AI implementation. To do so, it's important to balance any increase in AI usage with social initiatives designed to reduce loneliness and disconnection. These initiatives could include regular team-building events and check-ins with employees who work heavily with AI.

Is AI stunting our soft skills?

On top of the potential health risks, extensive AI use could risk limiting employees' professional development if left unchecked: often without them even realising.

According to professor and author Jo Ann Oravec, employees "are becoming apprentices to AI, rather than the colleagues and associates of human beings." When AI can answer most of our questions with a simple click, we might not need to liaise with our colleagues as often. In the long term, this can weaken our communication skills - one of the most important skills for STEM. Employees need to explain complex concepts to others who might not have any technical know-how.

Collaboration could also be a casualty of AI if we're not careful. Workforces that don't keep in touch will forget how to come together as a team to find solutions to technical challenges. This is at the heart of STEM skills, so if your team can't work together it will struggle to innovate - and your business will struggle to grow. Leaders should allocate time for regular employee forums, with the purpose of enabling teams to connect whilst sharing expertise and new ideas.

AI isn't good at everything

You should reserve AI for tasks where it proves most beneficial to look after employee wellbeing, as well as overall productivity. There are many areas where AI can complement employee efforts, but the human workforce still has the edge on technology in some cases.

AI is exceptional at repetitive, mundane tasks. But it can be less useful for the complex, nuanced, problem-solving parts of STEM work. For example, AI is still behind when it comes to competition-level mathematics and visual, commonsense reasoning. It also doesn't match human-level contextual awareness, which means that models may not react to unexpected situations appropriately. These are the areas where a human-in-the-loop is still critical, even if AI provides support in the first instance.

And communicating with third parties, in some cases, might be best left to human workforces. AI can effectively manage routine enquiries, but it still lacks the emotional intelligence and empathy needed for specific, in-depth queries. These might come from customers, but also from shareholders and suppliers, and these kinds of tricky conversations need a personal touch. Sometimes, only the expertise of a STEM professional will do.

Often, this work is the most rewarding part of an employee's role. They don't want to be burdened with endless admin, but get satisfaction from problem-solving and connecting with people. Using AI for the former will improve workforce morale, by allowing them time to focus on more engaging, people-centric, tasks.

How to stop AI from harming your people

We're never going to suggest an AI hiatus. The technology is revolutionising all industries - STEM included - and it has so many benefits. But alongside your use of AI, you should think about how to mitigate its effect on your employees' wellbeing. Here are three ideas.

1. Don't ignore the risks

By acknowledging AI has risks, you can put measures in place to manage them. To keep your people connected to other colleagues, make sure that human interaction is included in their workflows alongside technology.

2. Keep it social

Small changes can have big impacts on employee collaboration and wellbeing. Incorporating more co-working spaces in the office, for instance, can encourage your workforce to collaborate. And organising social events and team-building exercises can help reduce employees' loneliness.

3. Manage the pace of your AI experimentation

AI can't help you with every problem your business faces, so don't try to replace human-led processes with technology that isn't there yet. Instead, use AI as a supplement to your human experts - not a substitute.

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