AI, health & humanity: Parliament hosts landmark event on the future of work

22 May 2025, House of Commons 

In the heart of Westminster, under the gaze of Big Ben, a landmark gathering took place, bringing together Parliamentarians, senior academics, and corporate leaders to discuss one of the most urgent and complex questions of our era: How is artificial intelligence reshaping health and wellbeing in the modern workplace?

Hosted by The Rt Hon. Sir Desmond Swayne MP, the event, The Impact of AI in Health & Wellbeing, offered a forward-looking forum to engage with new research, international perspectives, and executive insights on AI’s evolving role in workforce dynamics.

A thought-provoking evening: Agenda highlights

The evening began with a welcome from Sir Desmond Swayne, setting the tone for a discussion rooted in both opportunity and responsibility. Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE, Chair of the National Forum for Health & Wellbeing at Work (NFHW), framed the evening’s purpose: to explore how leadership and innovation must co-evolve with digital transformation to safeguard and empower the workforce.

Dr. Lina Siegl, Karla Wellington, and Dr. Sally Hemming then unveiled the NFHW’s flagship research report on AI’s impact on workforce wellbeing. The report—produced in collaboration with FYLD and Ernst & Young—drew from a national survey and interviews with industry leaders to shed light on both the promises and pitfalls of AI in the workplace .

Key findings from the research

The research highlighted:

• Duality of AI’s impact:   While many employees find AI tools improve efficiency and reduce stress by automating repetitive tasks, others report heightened anxiety due to job insecurity and constant digital monitoring.

• Need for AI fluency: Only 20% of organisations currently provide training on AI use, despite growing reliance on such tools. This skills gap contributes to stress and resistance, particularly among older workers.

• Perception matters: Employees who view AI as an enabler report better mental health outcomes than those who see it as a threat. Transparency, training, and involvement in AI adoption processes significantly shape this perception.

You can find the full report here.

Executive panel: Real-world transformation

A standout moment was the panel discussion chaired by Professor Cooper, featuring:

• Shelley Copsey, CEO of FYLD -    representing the voice of technology.

• Lawrence Summers, Executive Director, MGroup - providing the voice of industry.

• Luke Bullen, VP, WellHub - embodying the voice of health and wellbeing.

Each leader shared how their organisations are already leveraging AI not only to optimise performance but to improve safety, wellbeing, and employee engagement.

Shelley Copsey described FYLD’s use of real-time, AI-powered risk assessments to protect fieldworkers and reduce incident rates, an example of how AI can augment human decision-making rather than replace it.

Closing reflections: A call for ethical innovation

Karl Simons OBE, Chief Futurist and Co-Founder at FYLD AI, compère for the evenings event, closed by reiterating that ethical, transparent, and inclusive AI integration is no longer optional, it’s essential. He urged organisations to focus not only on productivity, but also on trust, education and wellbeing.

The path forward

The event served as both a celebration of progress and a call to action. As AI accelerates change in every industry, the challenge is clear: to ensure that the transformation is not just digital, but deeply human.

For businesses ready to lead the way, now is the time to prioritise not just AI adoption, but AI understanding at every level of the organisation.

Curious about how AI can empower your teams, enhance safety and improve wellbeing?

Book a demo with FYLD and explore the future of smart, sustainable operations.