Using AI at work can make you lonely and nervous

The use of too much artificial intelligence in the workplace can make employees lonely and nervous, as a study shows. And this despite the fact that AI has enabled them to do their work much faster.

Increasing automation in the workplace through the use of artificial intelligence can make employees lonely and nervous, as one study published in the Harvard Business Review published study shows. This effect occurs shortly after the introduction of automation.

Employees suffered from deep sadness and isolation when AI took over routine tasks at work, even though they were able to work much more efficiently through the use of AI.

Lonely because of AI at work

“Interacting with AI made them more efficient and enabled them to get a lot more work done,” the article says. However, at the same time, employees felt lonely and isolated from colleagues. This was the result of the evaluation of various studies.

The time spent together with colleagues is lost due to the optimization of work. For example, problems are no longer analyzed together, but by AI assistants.

But although the use of AI can increase productivity, companies should not lose sight of “their most important asset.” A primary focus on technology can have numerous negative consequences: “a reduction in job satisfaction, motivation and mental well-being.”

Companies must not neglect their human capital

In the past, companies have made “great efforts” to promote the physical and mental well-being of their employees. This must also happen when using AI.

If you want to make AI adoption projects successful and viable, you need to focus on people first and AI second.

Because AI tools are “everyday, interchangeable and imitable,” their use does not provide a company with “any strategic advantage” over its competitors.

Companies can only achieve a sustainable competitive advantage if they also take care of their human resources. AI must be “incorporated into the work equation” so that employees are not demotivated and demoralized by its use.

New workflows can help

According to the report, if companies use AI tools, they should also monitor the well-being of their employees. Redesigned workflows can help employees focus on more strategic tasks – those that AI cannot take over.

Instead of simply adding AI to existing processes, companies must redesign their workflows to leverage the unique strengths of humans and machines.

The goal of using artificial intelligence should be to enrich people's work. Companies could use AI tools to support the social and emotional needs of employees.

The aim should be to foster a culture in which social interaction is valued and encouraged and not seen as a distraction from 'real work'.

Although AI can take on more tasks, more space must be created for employees to have personal interaction.

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