Digital tools and AI for personalized health

With the rise of telehealth and digital therapeutic tools, including games, a wealth of new apps and technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) experiences that are powered by AI, are poised to become more integrated into everyday workplace well-being programs.

First, from the diagnostic side, AI and machine learning are increasingly being used to analyze data from employee interactions and feedback systems to identify patterns related to workplace satisfaction, performance, stress, and impending mental health issues such as the potential for depression or burnout. This data can help leaders identify problematic emerging patterns so they can pre-emptively address job-related issues, toxic leadership, team dynamics, and employee engagement levels in their organizations around the globe.

As organizations increasingly recognize the highly diverse well-being needs of their workforce, this data, paired with emerging apps, games, and tools, is providing personalized mental health support for employees. For example, we have recently witnessed a wealth of applications providing AI-based on-demand therapists and coaches, chatbot clinical therapy support, self-diagnostics and personalized training modules, and a wealth of applications that can enhance leadership skills, such as time management (and stress management), emotional intelligence, communication, and empathy.

Interestingly, learnings from the world of online gaming (ironically one of the major contributors to digital ill health and addiction) are supporting workplace mental health innovation – such as in the field of “serious games.” These more therapeutically oriented games are being developed and commercialized by major industries to support mental health (e.g., ADHD, depression, anxiety) and foster cognitive skill training (e.g., emotion regulation) in the workplace and beyond. For example, as awareness of the danger of problematic mobile phone use increases, these games, apps, and, of course, other non-tech-based devices, are poised to support individuals to limit technology overuse – or misuse – and promote work-life balance and digital well-being.