To be the best at their jobs, people need relationships in the workplace. Employees who feel comfortable taking work challenges to peers or problem solving in tandem are more likely to excel in their work.
They’re also more likely to be happy, as recent research has revealed. Social connections in the workplace contribute to a greater sense of life satisfaction and well-being, one study found. Another examined the relationship between isolation and burnout and found that employees experiencing loneliness “expressed a desire to be psychologically detached from their jobs for recovery.” Conversely, employee happiness leads to better outcomes, as research shows it’s “not only correlated with workplace success,” but that employee happiness actually “precedes measures of success.”
The move to hybrid work has deepened the challenge of establishing authentic workplace relationships, and it’s not going anywhere — 90 percent of businesses plan to keep a hybrid model in place and at least some of their workforce remote, according to Lenovo customer surveys. Amid this new standard for professional life, many employees are struggling to maintain meaningful relationships with their peers. More than half of all workers – 52 percent — say they desire more interaction at work.
A lack of in-person interaction may be contributing to the problem, but technology can play a key role in solving it, providing tools and platforms that make it easier to authentically connect with people no matter their geographic location.
In this fight against workplace isolation, AI PCs from companies like Lenovo are emerging as a key asset. They provide a variety of benefits that boost collaboration and improve productivity, which may limit the isolating effects of remote work. They act as a force for leveling the technological playing field, helping unite workers across generations and a range of technical aptitudes. AI PCs can even help improve some of the downstream impacts of life in front of a laptop, including physical health concerns. Meanwhile, the suite of tools on AI PCs like Lenovo’s ThinkPad X9 and ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura not only enliven employee connections through seamless collaboration, but they also can significantly boost efficiency and productivity.
How AI PCs enable greater connection and efficiency
As remote jobs have become increasingly common over the last five years, employees have grown accustomed to being flexible and maintaining a level of productivity no matter their location. An evolving technology ecosystem has enabled that productivity, but there’s more to be done.
“These tools must transform as quickly as the way we work has transformed,” says Tom Butler, executive director of worldwide commercial portfolio and product management at Lenovo. “Missed connections during video calls, lagging collaboration tools, and slow response times on deliverables caused by outdated technology can disrupt workflows and lead to missed opportunities.”
“Faulty tools can ultimately erode team confidence and contribute to the isolating effects of hybrid work, delaying timelines and impacting business outcomes,” Butler says.
Solutions can’t be one-size-fits-all. Rather, with a workforce spread across four generations and coming with varying levels of technological expertise, tech must meet employees where they are. That’s why, as it delivers a deep portfolio of AI PCs, Lenovo has established a vision of “Smarter AI for All,” reflecting the company’s commitment to shaping a future powered by AI.
Its machines are built to offer personalized experiences, extending and enhancing productivity without sacrificing security. The ThinkPad X1 2-in-1 Gen 10 Aura Edition AI laptop integrates a range of AI-driven features designed for hybrid work, while Lenovo Learning Zone applies AI features to schooling, allowing users to generate notes and summaries from things like lectures and presentations.
Lenovo AI Now is an AI assistant that lives on the device, meaning it can quickly help users sort through and retrieve local documents, generate real-time summaries, and interact securely with the user’s personal base of materials and knowledge. The assistant streamlines workflows for users and allows them to focus on higher level tasks, like ideating on new projects with work peers. Meanwhile, the AI learns from user behaviors so it gets better over time, tailoring recommendations and automating remedial tasks.
“(That) will allow businesses to be more efficient with their time, money, and operational resources,” Butler says. “Our commitment to innovation and collaboration, as seen in the Lenovo Aura Edition series and ThinkBook portfolio, ensures that organizations can fully harness the power of AI to drive faster and more informed decisions.”
How AI PCs encourage wellness
New health concerns are taking root as an even greater percentage of everyday work moves out of conference rooms and off the whiteboard, to be conducted instead on digital devices. All that time staring at a screen or hunched over a laptop has made an impact, and so has the sedentary nature of life at a desk. Staring at a screen all day can cause eye strain, while poor posture can contribute to neck, back, and shoulder stiffness. There’s a reason migraine prevalence has been on the rise over the last three decades.
AI PCs can play a role in combating these physical health concerns. Lenovo’s Aura Edition laptops, including the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i, include a “Smart Mode” built to improve wellness. The technology offers posture alerts and can even reduce the impact of eye fatigue with gaze tracking, which reminds users to regularly take breaks. Even with deadlines to hit, a few minutes away from the screen can make a big difference.
“These subtle yet effective reminders promote healthier work habits, enabling users to stay productive while prioritizing their physical well-being,” Butler says.
How AI PCs spur better meetings, connections, and results
There’s no buffering or dropped calls when meetings are held in person. Lenovo is committed to making the digital meeting experience just as seamless — and productive.
Features like Lenovo Smart Meeting deliver a better, more efficient conference call experience with system-level optimization to manage cooling and virtually eliminate buffer and stutter. Available in most ThinkBook laptops when paired with the Lenovo LA3 AI chip and Lenovo Smart Power 3.0, the technology is a key step toward breaking down the barriers of remote and hybrid work. Meanwhile, tools like background blurring and noise reduction minimize distraction and improve collaboration.
Yet, the work required to fully bridge these location divides continues. Lenovo will further invest $1 billion in AI over the next three years as it works toward its vision of AI for all. The environment will continue to evolve, Butler says, as AI PCs integrate deeper with hybrid AI solutions and work across multiple devices and platforms. He expects AI tools to become even more intuitive in the ways they adapt to specific workflows and help users unlock creativity.
“Our latest AI PC innovations represent a significant leap forward in making technology more personalized, productive, and protected for our customers,” Butler says. “But we’re not done yet.”
Learn more about how Lenovo is removing barriers with Smarter Technology.
