Enhancing productivity and well-being: Opportunities with Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool across various fields: education, health, entertainment, among many others. Its adoption has been contemplated way beyond the use of algorithms to predict likeable media, or in other widely known use cases like browsing assistants and audio-visual generators. AI has also been used as an impactful tool to solve and/ or optimize human limitations, like processing large amounts of data, such as demographic information, lifestyle factors, psychological parameters, e.g. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques have shown great promise in accurately predicting the likelihood of mental issues among college students, making it possible for early intervention and prevention. The access to data allows the AI to, in addition to that, provide personalized risk assessments and recommendations, facilitating targeted support. (Zhang et al., 2024) As industries continue to adopt more complex technologies and possibilities, human-centered processes urge for an opportunity to reduce mental burden and prioritize human well-being alongside productivity (Judah et al, 2018). This present work proposes a human-centered approach that consists in using AI to support people who consider themselves to have issues with concentration, focus and productivity in their work and study activities. The experiment took place as part of an iniative to use wearable devices to aid different profiles with productivity, especially those affected by the aforementioned limitations. It is important to iterate that the objective of the experiment has never been intended to be used as a means to treat attention disorders or other medical-related deficits. The experiment consists of assessing the research participant’s context behind the mentioned pain points and seeking opportunities that support them to not only be more productive but also reduce cognitive overload and stress in their routine. After interviewing and analyzing thoroughly 8 individuals who considered themselves to have issues with focus, concentration and productivity at work, the understanding that there are different profiles among them was reached: a self-conscious profile, who believes the limitation are conditions of who they are, and the goal-oriented profile, who are moved by the sensation of goal achievement. With this, emerges the need for decision-making and suggestions that take their particularities into consideration and are able to provide them with real time insights (Zhang et. al, 2024). Participants showed 3 common factors: 1) the experience of frustration with failing in engaging and being as productive as expected, 2) the adoption of tools to support them achieve their goals – including AI tools, and 3) the creation of a reward system, which facilitates their engagement and productivity. The experiment alongside the available data have demonstrated that AI can offer real-time decision-making support, individually tailored suggestions and, therefore, reducing the feeling of cognitive fatigue. A tool for both task-efficiency and well-being. Further study in the field of context aware technology, cognitive ergonomics and its integration with AI and wearable devices present strong market valuable human-centered opportunities (Hilmi et. Al, 2024, Bheema, S., 2023, Hopko et. Al 2021, Mouhim & Lachhab, 2025).