It's rare to find an enterprise team not inundated with questions about AI; and lately, HR departments seem to be fielding an especially high volume of inquiries. It's no wonder, as the excitement (and concerns) about AI's potential impact on how we work are at the center of so many conversations among leaders and organizations.   

Against the backdrop of AI curiosity, benefits brokers and advisors have become sounding boards for their HR colleagues. Sometimes, brokers are asked to evaluate different HR technology solutions with AI as a main feature. Other times, they are asked to create or evaluate strategies where AI can be used for process improvement or to enhance the employee experience. 

Needs like these offer an opportunity for advisors to share an important evolution happening at the intersection of AI and HR. Namely, AI's ability to accelerate — and as importantly, scale — empathy within the workplace. 

Why empathy at work is so important now

CEOs are increasingly aware of the critical value of empathy when it comes to a positive employee experience. Businessolver research found that the number of CEOs who reported seeing the value of empathy to retention grew 19 points year-over-year to 42% in 2023. What's more, 68% of CEOs believe that empathy needs to evolve within U.S. organizations today, up 25 points from prior years.