We’re back to work and AI is here to help.

Amidst the race to power workplace productivity

with AI-based technology that so often removes humans from the equation, our team at inqli is
excited to be launching just on time as the first “pro-connection” workplace technology of its
kind.

Today, we’re unveiling a pivotal paper titled "Questions Are The Answer: Improving Business
Impact and Employee Well-being by Democratizing Access to Knowledge with Purposeful
Tech." This publication is designed to unite leaders across organizations in People & Culture,
Learning & Development, Well-being, IT, and Knowledge Management in a vital conversation
about the intersection of organizational productivity, employee well-being, and technology.
Rather than viewing these sectors as unrelated, this paper initiates a crucial dialogue that merges
workplace wellness with the adoption of human-centric technology solutions. We're addressing
how technology, while meant to enhance productivity and well-being, can inadvertently
compromise them.

As organizations charge forward to compete in the “AI Arms Race” (which we believe should
more aptly be considered a “tragedy of the commons”, but that’s another topic for another time)
the rate at which we’re continuing to pile on technology solutions is rapidly increasing. Unless
we begin to take a much more humane approach to the design and implementation of our
technology solutions, the unintended consequences threaten the very productivity we aim to
increase–and have even greater consequences to human well-being. It’s a zero-sum game for
organizations and the people that power them.

This paper stresses the urgency for a more human-centric approach to the design and
implementation of technology that intentionally mitigates human harm from technostress - a
pervasive form of stress that includes symptoms such as; fatigue, loss of motivation, inability to
concentrate, dissatisfaction at work and reduced productivity - all of which are translated into
huge costs for organizations. It is estimated that workplace stress costs more than 1 trillion
dollars every year to US businesses due to decreased employee productivity, absenteeism and
turnover. Additionally, the Fortune 500 lose a combined $31 billion per year from employees
failing to share knowledge and lessons effectively.

Technology is intertwined with every aspect of our work lives, yet its impact on productivity and
human connection is paradoxically complex. For better or worse, new tools are embedded into
our lives and workplaces before we have a chance to truly consider their potential consequences.
This paper argues for an accelerated shift toward a human-centric approach to technology,
connection, and learning opportunities in the workplace to more intentionally foster human
outcomes – including connection, energy, and well-being – that lead to business productivity and
innovation.

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, productivity fell in 2022 to its lowest
level since 1947, contrasting sharply with the expected efficiency gains from technology. This is
in parallel to alarming rates of technology use; data gathered by the Digital Wellness Institute's
Impact Study shared that employees spend an average of 11.8 hours daily on work-related
technology. Tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams have transformed communication and broken
down geographical and team barriers, while personalized learning software revolutionizes
education access. Yet, this technological embrace brings an undercurrent, blurring the line
between enhanced connectivity and growing isolation. Why, amidst unparalleled access to
information and tools, do feelings of lagging behind and loneliness escalate?

With loneliness on the rise, as underscored by the US Surgeon General's 2023 report, this paper
emphasizes the necessity of intentional, purposeful technology design and use to democratize
access to knowledge and enhance human energy (rather than deplete it). It explores how
technology, when aligned with human-centric organizational values, can support productivity
and innovation while nurturing social connections and community in the workplace. This
exploration is crucial in a world where technology holds bittersweet potential, capable of both
connecting and isolating us, and where the responsibility for digital wellness is increasingly
shared between employers and employees.