AI at work, more happiness but also more stress: the new well-being equation

The data say that frequent users of AI are better off at work, but fear the future more. The fear of losing one's job weighs. Uncertainty also weighs when the company does not explain why it is introducing AI and what will change. And the expectations of colleagues can become performance pressure.

That said, not all stress is bad. Among the main stressors is 'I often learn something new'. It happens at all ages. Learning is tiring, but it gives meaning. A little stress can mean involvement. In other words: if you care about work, a little bit stresses you out.

Yes, the risk is there. Today, AI is used more by those with high incomes and skills. And these people also declare more wealth. Side effect: the 'good jobs' become even better, the others stay put or disappear.

Companies have a clear responsibility: not only to give access to AI, but to teach how to use it. Training and support are the key to not creating a new internal inequality.

Communication matters more. AI will remain, but we don't yet know how everything will change. Saying it openly increases trust. Silence does not.

Workers do not demand answers to every question. They do, however, want uncertainties to be acknowledged. Where communication has been poor, we have seen confidence, optimism and a sense of work collapse. All pillars of well-being.

AI is not perfect and does not replace all roles. Today it mainly helps with repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Skills do not disappear: they change.

From the data we see that the most positive impact on well-being comes when AI is used to collaborate better. Less time on routines, more time on relationships, decisions and strategic work. This is where the work gets really interesting.

In the meantime, we would like to do it again. Today the adoption of AI is still low. In the next two years we expect many more users and different uses.

We will be interested in how quickly AI enters the various professions and whether it remains linked to positive work experiences. We will also look at hitherto little explored topics: limits, fears, red lines. Privacy, decision-making autonomy, trust.

AI changes fast. To predict everything would be presumptuous. But one thing will: we will get a better look at what companies have done, how they have communicated and what effect it has had on well-being. And this may help those who are still in the middle of the pack.