Articles
October 13, 2025
Designed for People. Defined by Transparency. Built on Trust.
AI is everywhere in HR right now. Every conference, every panel, every software demo — it’s the headline act. And if you’re in charge of benefits, you’re already feeling the squeeze. Your CEO wants to know when you’ll “bring in AI.” Your peers are experimenting. Even employees are starting to ask, “When will this get easier?”
But here’s the thing: The hype doesn’t erase the risk. When you bring AI into sensitive spaces like healthcare and benefits, the stakes are sky-high. A wrong recommendation isn’t just an inconvenience — it could put a family in jeopardy. A privacy misstep isn’t just trust broken — it’s tomorrow’s headline.
That’s why, from the very start, we anchored our approach to AI in a core philosophy that we call Mindful AI.
At its heart, Mindful AI is about getting technology out of the way, so people can do what they do best: Make informed judgments, have real conversations, and live their lives without benefits becoming another source of stress.
From hype to high-stakes: Why AI in benefits needs guardrails
AI adoption in HR isn’t theoretical. It’s already happening. A Forrester study found that 65% of HR leaders are using AI today, and another 60% plan to adopt it within two years.
The catch? Nearly 75% worry they’ll use it the wrong way.
That’s the real risk. It’s not hesitancy. It’s rushing forward without safeguards.
Mindful AI is the safety net. It keeps innovation exciting without letting it get reckless. It’s the difference between experimenting with the latest tool and making sure employees still trust the system that’s supposed to support them.
So the real questions are: Are you confident in how you’re implementing AI for benefits? And are you confident in how your partners are using it?
Because AI can go wrong quickly. We’ve all seen it: Chatbots spitting out wrong answers, models pulling data they shouldn’t, recommendations that can’t be explained. When that happens in benefits, the impact is personal.
How we’re putting AI to work across the benefits experience
Emma™ Intelligence is the AI layer that’s woven across the entire bswift benefits experience.
- Emma Chat answers employee questions 24/7, trained on each employer’s specific benefits plans — not generic internet data.
- Emma EnrollPro™ helps people choose a health plan with confidence, weighing plan details against personal circumstances.
- Emma AdminPro™ gives HR leaders instant dashboards from plain-language questions like “Show me HDHP adoption trends.”
- Emma Agent Assistant supports service reps with real-time context, so they resolve calls faster and more personally.
Every one of those examples is useful. But every one also comes with risk:
- Risk that AI replaces human judgment instead of supporting it.
- Risk that sensitive data leaks outside the system.
- Risk that a recommendation can’t be explained.
- Risk that today’s model won’t adapt to tomorrow’s needs.
Those risks are why we anchored Emma — and every AI decision we make — in Mindful AI.
The principles of Mindful AI: Our North Star
Mindful AI is about putting people first. And our decisions about AI are filtered through that lens.
- Augment, don’t replace.
AI should give people breathing room, not push them aside. Our goal is to take routine work off the table so HR leaders, service reps, and employees can focus on what humans do best — listening, guiding, solving. - Privacy by default.
Employees trust us with sensitive information. That trust is non-negotiable. Our models run inside bswift, not on external systems. Data never flows back to “big tech.” And when we use third-party partners, they don’t get to keep or train on your data. - Explainable and defensible.
If you can’t explain why an AI system produced a certain answer, you can’t defend it. That’s why every use case is reviewed by a governance committee of senior leaders and experts. If we can’t explain it, we don’t ship it. - Flexible for the future.
AI is evolving fast. We design for agility so we can deliver accuracy today and adapt to tomorrow without breaking trust along the way.
What governance looks like when it’s done for people, not policy
“Governance” can sound like bureaucracy. But here’s what it really means in practice:
- No hidden agendas. Your data isn’t being sold. Period.
- Transparency. You’ll always know how AI works and what data it’s using.
- Reliability. Models are tested for bias, not just efficiency.
- Feedback loops. We listen to HR leaders and employees and fold that feedback back into the system.
This isn’t governance for governance’s sake. It’s governance that lets you innovate without gambling on your people’s trust.
Why philosophy matters more than features in HR tech
It’s tempting to look at AI through the lens of features. Can it answer questions? Generate dashboards? Recommend plans? But those features only matter if the philosophy behind them is sound.
Mindful AI is that philosophy. It’s the difference between using AI because you can and using AI because it truly improves people’s lives.
Mindful AI is how trust in benefits survives AI
The benefits world is complicated enough. The last thing employees need is another black box.
That’s why we practice Mindful AI. It’s not a slogan — it’s a commitment:
- Human-first design
- Privacy by default
- Transparency over shortcuts
- Flexibility for the future
So yes, AI is here to stay. The real question is whether you’ll adopt it in a way that builds trust or erodes it. Mindful AI is how we make sure it’s the former.
Glossary: Essential AI Terms HR Pros Should Know
AI is everywhere, and sometimes it feels like a whole new language dropped on us out of nowhere. Here are a few key terms to know, especially if you’re cut through the buzzwords in the HR tech landscape.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
- Generative AI models (GenAI) are algorithms that use machine learning techniques to produce new content, such as text or images, based on patterns learned from existing data.
- Large language models (LLMs) are algorithms which utilize large datasets to summarize, recognize, predict, and translate content.
- Machine Learning (ML) aims to teach a machine how to perform a specific task and provide accurate results by identifying patterns.
Related Insights
Why Millennials and Gen Z Tune Out and How Personalized Employee Benefits Communication Changes Everything
Personalization isn’t a perk to Millennials and Gen Z—it’s the default setting. They expect their benefits to work like all digital experiences: seamless, intuitive, and a step ahead of their needs.
Beyond Checkboxes: Annual Enrollment Strategies That Engage and Deliver
For HR, annual enrollment isn’t just another task—it’s a high-stakes, strategic opportunity to boost employee engagement, satisfaction and retention.
How to Navigate (and Win) Open Enrollment Season
Prepare for enrollment season with our open enrollment checklist! Discover tips, strategies, and a comprehensive checklist to streamline your planning and execution.
Legislative Update: What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Employers
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law.
Benefits Administration Solution Buyer’s Guide for HR Teams
Download this HR Buyer’s Guide to benefits administration solutions. Learn how to compare vendors, evaluate features, and build a business case with real ROI.
Wellbeing, Rewired: Employee Benefits in 2025
Discover four strategies HR leaders can use rebuild clarity, foster connections, create meaningful growth opportunities and boost employee engagement.
How bswift’s Service Center Is Redefining Employee Benefits Support
Hear how bswift's Service Center blends HR tech and empathy to transform employee benefits support—driving a 95% satisfaction rate.
Next Gen HR: Recapping Ben Admin’s Bright Future at bswift’s Idea Exchange 2025
Relive the Idea Exchange 2025 highlights! Discover insights, standout sessions, and a recap of what made IX so incrediblen for HR pros this year.
Idea Exchange 2025: On-Demand General Sessions
Dive into some of the top sessions from Idea Exchange 2025—now available to watch anytime.
4 Steps to Build a Business Case for Better HR Tech Investment
Whether it’s clunky manual tasks, confused employees, low engagement, or compliance risks, your current system is frustrating and feels like it’s holding you back.
SHRM Webinar Replay: Solving the Employee Engagement Crisis
Employee engagement is not doing great. It’s at a 10-year low, with only 31% of U.S. employees reporting they feel engaged at work, according to Gallup. Disengaged teams don’t drive innovation, collaboration, or results for organizations.
The Employee Engagement Crisis: 4 Ways HR Leaders Can Improve Morale and Productivity
Discover four strategies HR leaders can use rebuild clarity, foster connections, create meaningful growth opportunities and boost employee engagement.
HR Trends That Will Define 2025: Rising Costs, Smarter Benefits Strategies
Discover the HR trends shaping 2025, from skyrocketing healthcare costs to smarter benefits strategies. Learn how to stay ahead and support your team.
The Rising Impact of Diabetes on Workplace Productivity and Employee Health
Support employee health and reduce costs with effective diabetes management programs that promote workplace wellness and enhance productivity.
Values in Action: How Company Culture Drives Business Success
Here's how strong company culture, driven by core values, improves employee engagement and business success. Learn how to strengthen culture.
AI for Health Plan Administration: 3 Ways It’s Transforming Benefits Management
AI is transforming benefits administration. Discover how bswift's Mindful AI™ enhances human abilities, improving efficiency, accuracy, and user satisfaction.
Conquer Annual Enrollment: 7 Steps to Scale Your HR Everest
Master annual enrollment with our checklist. From HR tech to communication planning, streamline your HR process and improve your employee benefits rollout.
4 Holistic Health Trends to Boost Employee Wellbeing and ROI
Learn how holistic health trends in employee wellbeing programs like value-based care, whole person care, mental health can boost ROI.
AI for HR: 4 Key Trends You Need to Know Now
Cut through the hype. From Mindful AI to people analytics, these 4 trends in AI for HR boost employee engagement and attract top talent.
Employee Healthcare Cost Containment Strategies: A Guide for HR
Rising healthcare costs got your HR team down? Discover 4 data-driven cost-containment strategies from bswift's IX to reduce healthcare spending & improve wellbeing.
The Gold Standard in Employee Comms: bswift Communication Agency
bswift Communication Agency wins 2 Gold Hermes Awards for creative employee benefits communication. Learn more about our award-winning work!
Introducing the AI Supercharged Emma™: Your Employee Benefits Guide
Empower your employees with bswift's Emma, an AI-powered benefits assistant. Personalized recommendations, plan comparisons and more.
Simplify Benefits, Unlock HR’s Potential: bswift Has You Covered
Simplify benefits administration and empower HR with tools to streamline enrollment, optimize benefits use, and free HR for strategic work.
Solving the Employee Communication Puzzle: Tips for Better Engagement
Effective employee communication is crucial for HR. Learn best practices to improve benefits utilization and employee engagement.
Optimize Benefits Enrollment: HR Best Practices for the ‘So-Called’ Off-Season
Benefits enrollment best practices for HR. Improve employee communications strategies, analyze benefits utilization and enhance benefits portfolios.
American Heart Month: How to Support the Heart Health of Your Workforce
February is American Heart Month – the perfect time to focus on workplace wellness and heart health through personalized digital tools and connected capabilities.
The Future of HR: 4 Trends Reshaping Employee Benefits in 2024
Let's look at the future of HR, from AI and automation to cost containment, tailored well-being initiatives, and adapting to remote work.
How to Improve Employee Benefits Engagement
Boost employee benefits engagement with proven HR strategies like clear communication, feedback loops, and AI chatbots to empower employees
bswift Elevate™: Empowering Holistic Employee Wellbeing, Anywhere and Anytime
bswift Elevate is reimagining the employee well-being journey and simplifying the employee experience with hyper-personalized messaging to drive deeper engagement in employer wellbeing programs.
Want Engaged Employees? Show Full Value with Total Compensation Statements
A smart way to boost employee engagement is to create a total compensation statement that details the value of their salary, benefits and other rewards.
bswift Mobile App: Empower Your Employees
The bswift Mobile App offers your employees seamless access to their benefits. Download the app now via the App Store or Google Play Store.
Ace Annual Enrollment: 4 Solutions to Common HR Challenges
Make annual enrollment frictionless and empowering, These tips will help you optimize the employee experience and drive talent retention.
Prioritizing Employee Wellbeing for Business Success
Explore the core connection between employee benefits, employee wellbeing, and business success. Get a roadmap for reviewing your organization's current offerings to ensure they're relevant, accessible and effectively supporting workforce health and productivity.
Insights and Highlights: A Recap of bswift’s Idea Exchange 2023 Conference
bswift's Idea Exchange 2023 Conference brings you insights on employee benefits engagement and benefits administration. Access session videos and more. Perfect for any HR professional looking to stay up-to-date.
Hire Emma: bswift’s AI HR Assistant That Pays for Herself
Meet Emma, the AI HR assistant who resolves benefits questions, provides enrollment guidance, and improves the employee experience.
Here’s How to Create An Engaging Employee Benefits Communication Strategy
Great employee benefits communication is crucial for employee satisfaction. Get tips for effective benefits communications that engage all stakeholders, using a multi-channel approach, incorporating empathy, focusing on timing, highlighting total rewards, and broadening the conversation on employee wellbeing.
The Power of Effective Employee Benefits Utilization: Tips to Boost Benefits Engagement and Retention
Improve retention, engagement, wellbeing and productivity with an effective employee benefits utilization strategy. Boost benefits engagement with these tips.
Maximizing Employee Benefits Utilization: Challenges and Solutions
Improve engagement and retention with effective employee benefits utilization. Learn common challenges, solutions, and the importance of prioritizing employee wellbeing.
Forrester Research Reveals the High Cost of Low Employee Benefits Engagement (And What You Can Do About It)
Discover how HR pros can improve employee benefits engagement with insights from Forrester Research. Boost morale, productivity and retention, and cut healthcare costs. See the survey results and actionable strategies now.
The Top 5 Employee Benefits to Boost Satisfaction, Retention and Recruitment
Learn which employee benefits matter most to employees, and how these top employee benefits boost satisfaction, retention, and recruitment. A must-read for HR professionals.
How to Use AI to Improve HR: bswift Experts Answer CHROs’ Most Pressing Questions
bswift experts answer CHROs' questions about using AI to improve HR. Learn how to avoid pitfalls, partner with CTOs, and create a better employee experience.
How to Successfully Implement AI in HR: The CTO and CHRO Partnership
Let's look at the benefits and the risks of AI in HR. From data privacy to legal liability, CHROs and CTOs can partner to safely implement AI for business.
Boost Benefits Utilization with a Great Employee Benefits Communication Plan
Unlock the full potential of your employee benefits communication. Benefits U helps you save time and effort and boost employee engagement.
Cut Costs, Not Benefits: Establish a Culture of Health in Your Workplace
Learn how to reduce healthcare costs and improve employee satisfaction with a culture of health in the workplace. Follow these 6 easy steps.
Celebrating Black History Month with Benefits Equity
How you can make the most of this celebration by incorporating employee benefits into your diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy.
6 Great Questions To Help You Measure Annual Enrollment Success
With the dust settling on annual enrollment, it's time to look back and learn. Here are a few simple questions you and your HR team can ask.
The Top 5 HR Trends of 2023: Leveraging Tech to Put the ‘Human’ Back in HR
In 2023, technology will continue to play a major role in how we adapt. Here are the top five HR trends we’re watching in 2023.
Solving the Great Resignation: The Role of Employee-centric Benefits, Tech & Culture
Struggling to navigate the Great Resignation? Here are a few ways to improve and develop a more employee-centric-culture.