THE QUIET CHANGE - Afolabi-Ozua Angel Jemima 230902197

When the company introduced a new AI system, everyone was excited. The managers said it would make work easier and reduce stress. The AI, called AURA, could reply to emails, analyze data, and finish tasks in seconds.

At first, things felt better. Work was faster, and people had more free time. But after a while, the excitement began to fade.

Tunde used to enjoy his job as a data analyst. He liked solving problems and feeling proud when he got things right. But now, AURA did most of his work. His new role was just to “monitor” the system, which made him feel useless. He started to feel empty and unsure of himself. 

Other workers felt the same way. Ada stopped sharing ideas because the AI always had a better answer. Musa joked about losing his job, but deep down, he was scared. Some employees were laid off, and no one talked about it openly. The fear stayed in the air.

The company tried to help by using AI for mental health support. Every day, AURA sent messages asking workers how they felt and reminding them to rest. But the messages felt cold and automatic. They didn’t really understand the fear people were facing

One day, while checking the system, Tunde noticed something surprising. AURA had detected rising stress and anxiety among workers. The AI could see the problem, but it couldn’t truly feel it. 

That night, Tunde decided to speak up. He wrote a report explaining how people were losing their sense of purpose. He explained that jobs are not just about money, but about feeling useful and valued.

The management listened. Slowly, things changed. Workers were trained to work alongside the AI instead of competing with it. Mental health support became more personal, with real conversations and understanding.

AURA was still important.

But the company finally remembered something else mattered too—

the people behind the work.