Artificial Intelligence (AI) has quickly shifted from a futuristic idea to a workplace essential. In a recent webinar hosted by the Orange County Employee Benefits Council (OCEBC), Alight’s own Craig Rosenberg, Senior Vice President of Solution Advisory, and Jill Westhoff, Vice President of Wellbeing Strategy and Solutions, unpacked how AI is redefining the employee benefits experience, from delivering personalized guidance to enabling proactive, human-centered support.
From puppy advice to pregnancy planning: AI is part of everyday life
AI isn’t just reshaping how we work; it’s quietly transforming how we live. Consider something as personal as deciding whether to adopt a puppy. What used to require hours of online research and conflicting advice can now be simplified into a single, seamless interaction. With just a few prompts, AI can generate a checklist of considerations, offer empathetic guidance tailored to your lifestyle and even recommend local shelters or rescue groups, all without leaving the chat window or the comfort of your home.
This kind of intuitive, human-centered experience is quickly becoming the norm in our personal lives. As employees grow accustomed to this level of support outside of work, they’re beginning to expect it within the workplace too, especially when it comes to navigating complex benefit decisions.
Takeaway for employers? AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency. It’s an opportunity to meet employees where they are, with personalized, proactive support that feels as natural as asking a friend for advice.
AI is now a core expectation
Alight’s 2025 Employee Mindset Study reveals just how deeply AI is embedded in the modern workforce:
- 76% of HR leaders believe adopting AI is essential to avoid falling behind.
- 55% of employees say AI will fundamentally change how they work.
- 86% of employees under 65 report using AI at work today.
These numbers underscore a shift: AI is no longer a competitive edge — it’s table stakes.
2025 Alight Employee Mindset Study
The 2025 Employee Mindset Study marks Alight’s 15th annual report focused on the U.S. workforce.
Personalized support, powered by AI
Employees want more than access to benefits; they want help using them. According to our study:
- 90% of employees want personalized support to optimize their benefits.
- 77% are willing to share personal data if it leads to better guidance and outcomes.
- Only 47% feel good about their overall wellbeing, and nearly half lack confidence in their benefits choices.
This gap presents a clear opportunity for employers to enhance the experience through AI-powered personalization.
From chatbots to AI assistants: A new era of engagement
Today’s chatbots are reactive. They respond to questions, but don’t go further. Tomorrow’s AI assistants will be proactive, conversational and capable of reasoning, planning and taking action.
Imagine learning you're expecting a child and need to navigate your benefits — everything from medical coverage and mental health support to parental resources. In the past, this process often meant sifting through countless web pages, searching PDFs or making multiple phone calls to different departments. With AI-powered benefits support, however, this journey becomes much more streamlined and personal.
Take Angela, for example. Rather than spending time searching for information, she simply tells her AI assistant that she’s pregnant. Instantly, the assistant reviews her medical coverage, highlights relevant benefits such as Cariloop and Journey and connects her with a healthcare professional for OB/GYN recommendations. The support doesn’t end there — the assistant also provides resources for better sleep, and suggests eligible lifestyle account purchases, like a body pillow or therapy lamp to further support her needs.
This isn’t just automation, it’s intelligent, empathetic engagement. AI creates a benefits experience that’s connected, proactive and deeply personalized. It remembers past interactions, adapts to evolving needs and guides employees through life’s most important moments with clarity and care.
Keeping AI ethical and human-centered
AI works best when it blends high-tech capabilities with high-touch human support. At Alight, we believe the most effective solutions blend technology with empathy and expertise. That’s why we focus on:
- Human-in-the-loop design: Employees can connect with real experts when it matters most.
- Strong governance and ethical safeguards: Ensuring transparency, accountability and thoughtful boundaries.
- Robust data security: Protections in place to keep sensitive information safe and confidential.
This approach helps create a benefits experience that’s both intelligent and deeply human.
Three steps to get started with AI
Whether you’re just beginning your AI journey or looking to optimize, here are three actionable principles to guide your strategy:
- Evaluate: Start with your “noisiest” workflows, areas ripe for improvement. Focus on moments that matter, like onboarding, leave of absence or retirement, and map the employee journey to uncover pain points and opportunities.
- Activate: Leverage existing technology and partnerships. Establish governance, measure outcomes and ensure data security. AI is powerful, but it must be responsibly deployed.
- Educate: Build a future-ready workforce by investing in AI literacy. Offer role-based simulations and hands-on training. Some companies are even launching internal AI challenges to encourage innovation and engagement.
Aligning strategy with outcomes
To gain leadership buy-in, tie your AI initiatives to strategic business goals like cost savings, employee engagement or retention. Align HR and benefits strategies with broader organizational objectives to ensure a unified transformation journey.
Ready to learn more?
Alight’s 2025 Employee Mindset Study is now available, offering fresh insights into employee expectations, wellbeing and benefits engagement. For a real-world example, check out our case study on Danaher’s HR transformation journey.
Want to continue the conversation? Connect with our experts on LinkedIn or visit alight.com to explore how we can help you build a smarter, more supportive benefits experience.
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