An Open Letter to Business Leaders

We are standing at one of humanity’s most significant crossroads. The decisions we make about AI today will determine whether technology becomes humanity’s greatest tool or its greatest threat.

I have been consumed with AI and the transition we find ourselves in as a society, as a world. I find myself straddling the line between optimistic and horrified. As an ex-engineer, I am all in on the new advancements and possibilities. As the founder of Unvoiced, a human-centered business focused on creating a more empathetic and supportive world for grievers, I am scared.

I have been stuck in panic and FUD until I stumbled upon a piece by Tim O’Reilly. Everything finally clicked for me. For the first time, I was able to reconcile all the feelings I was having.

AI is not here to maintain the status quo and remove humans to cut costs. It is here to augment what we do by making once-impossible tasks possible. To create a future where the fullness of our humanity is taken into consideration in our workplaces. It’s about re-imagining what work can be when we prioritize the well-being of the people who make it all possible.

I've seen firsthand how workplace support during life's most difficult moments directly impacts both human well-being and business outcomes.

This vision isn’t just idealistic, it’s profitable.

The Economic Reality

The numbers don’t lie. Studies show that companies with strong cultures of empathy and support have:

• Lower turnover rates

• Higher productivity

• Better overall performance

It costs 6-9 months of salary* to replace a salaried employee. 50%** of grieving employees consider leaving their jobs when feeling unsupported. US businesses lose $225.6 billion*** every year due to lost productivity.

Turnover and lost productivity cost many times more than building empathetic cultures and policies.

This isn’t just a feel-good initiative—it’s a financially responsible investment. We must expand our understanding and envision a better future.

The Vision

Imagine a workplace where AI doesn’t dehumanize but instead enhances our humanity. Where we can focus on the things that truly matter: mental health, personal struggles, grief, and the challenges that make it hard to show up every day.

The things that keep us from digging deeper into our work and solving the hard problems. Where business thrives and every employee feels valued, fulfilled, and challenged by their work.

This isn’t just a utopian dream. It’s a practical, economic imperative. A workforce that feels supported, valued, and cared for is:

• More productive

• More engaged

• Less likely to burn out or leave

This is a win-win for businesses and employees.

The Path Forward

To achieve this future requires courage from business leaders to stand up and say, “AI first means human first.” We need to reject broken economic models that prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

Here’s how we get there:

1. Clear, Human-First Policies

Write down policies that prioritize humanity, communicate them clearly, and enforce them consistently.

2. Manager Training and Empowerment

Train managers to take a human-first approach, help them recognize when team members are struggling, and empower them to create flexibility and support.

3. Safe, Supportive Environment

Create spaces where employees feel comfortable sharing struggles without fear of judgment or retribution.

4. AI as an Enhancement Tool

Use AI to free up time and energy for higher-level problems, focusing on creativity and innovation, not just efficiency.

Our Moment of Choice

Throughout history, technological advances have presented us with choices. The Industrial Revolution both liberated and exploited workers. The digital age created unprecedented connectivity while enabling surveillance and isolation. Each time, we had to decide: Would we use these tools to elevate humanity or diminish it?

AI is the next step in that evolution. It’s an opportunity to do better and to be thoughtful and listen to diverse voices, not just a select few.

We’re at a pivotal moment in history, and the choices we make now will shape the future of work for generations to come. Will we choose to dehumanize and scale our workforce with AI, or will we use it to empower and uplift the people who bring our visions to life?

Addressing the Skeptics

Of course, there will be challenges. Some will argue that it’s too expensive to care for employees, that flexibility and empathy come at the cost of productivity.

But the reality is the opposite.

When we support our employees, it reduces turnover, increases engagement, and creates a culture where people want to give their best.

The Call to Action

Start this week:

• Draft one human-first policy

• Schedule empathy training for your management team

• Ask your employees: "How can we better support you?"

• Identify one way AI can free your team from mundane tasks

Let’s be better, because we are better than this.

And we can do better.

AI first means human first.

It’s time to have the courage to care, to fight for what’s right, and to put humanity at the center of our technological revolution.

*SHRM, Studies

**National Council for Palliative Care and Dying Matters

***Centers for Disease Control