April 11, 2025
Bridging the Innovation Gap: Introducing the #RealWorkTech Initiative
In our conversations with C-Suite leaders who are actively thinking about integrating AI or are already developing a growing list of use cases, it’s reassuring to see that more people are increasingly discussing the question of workforce transformation and worker well-being. The field of support for C-Suite leaders to responsibly think about how AI affects their workers, is also growing with new resources and guides (see Provoc’s Listening to Lead guide and executive fellowships such as Just Capital and Charter’s new Workforce Well-Being & AI ).
As AI and emerging technologies rapidly transform the workplace, business leaders face a critical choice: how to harness innovation without undermining worker well-being. Part I of our AI and Emerging Tech Transformation Series offers a roadmap for C-suite executives, HR leaders, and procurement teams navigating this new era. Drawing from a survey of 1,800+ workers across sectors, the report identifies seven high-risk areas—from performance tracking and behavioral monitoring to labor optimization and wellness apps—where poorly implemented tech can erode privacy, psychological safety, and job security.
With the workplace tech market projected to hit $1 trillion by 2026, this guide urges companies to integrate ethical procurement practices that balance productivity gains with human-centered safeguards. Tech adoption isn’t just a business decision—it’s a workplace justice issue.
Stay tuned for Part II, where we’ll share a practical framework to assess vendors and make smarter, safer tech choices.
