AI and Employee Engagement: The Future of Internal Comms is Here

Insights From Dev Mistry, Communications Manager at Field, Emma Bowden, Global Head of Executive and Employee Engagement at Clifford Chance, and Elly O’Hanlon, Enterprise Implementation Manager at Blink

What happens when cutting-edge technology meets the human heart of internal communications? At this year's Employee Engagement Summit, a fascinating panel discussion tackled this very question – and the insights shared were nothing short of transformative.

If you've been wondering how AI can actually enhance (rather than replace) the human connections that drive engagement, this session is an absolute must-listen. Dev Mistry, Communications Manager from Field, Emma Bowden, Global Head of Executive and Employee Engagement from Clifford Chance, and Elly O'Hanlon, Enterprise Implementation Manager from Blink brought real-world examples, honest challenges, and practical frameworks that will change how you think about personalisation, trust, and the future of employee comms.

Personalisation That Actually Works

Elly kicked things off by revealing how her organisation uses AI to cut through the noise that plagues so many internal communication channels. Imagine a world where your employees only see content that's genuinely relevant to their role, location, and interests – no more scrolling through dozens of irrelevant announcements. Through features like "Suggested for You", they're creating the kind of intuitive, personalised experience employees have come to expect from consumer platforms. It's about working smarter, not harder, and ensuring your messages land with the right people at the right time.

The Human-AI Partnership

Emma brought two decades of internal comms wisdom to the conversation, and her perspective was refreshingly pragmatic. Yes, AI can automate those repetitive tasks that eat up your day – drafting announcements, scheduling content, formatting updates. But here's the crucial bit: AI is a support tool, not a replacement for human judgement. She shared how her team at Clifford Chance developed organisational personas that feed into AI tools, helping generate more targeted content whilst maintaining that essential human oversight. The result? Communications that feel authentic, empathetic, and on-brand – because a human is still holding the pen (or at least the final edit).

Building Trust Through Transparency

Dev emphasised something that resonated throughout the discussion: transparency is everything. When you're introducing AI into your comms function, your people need to know how it's being used, why it's being used, and what safeguards are in place. He described how templates and automation have been game-changers in resource-constrained environments, but stressed that clear governance and security protocols are non-negotiable. Trust isn't automatic – it's built through consistent application, clear guidelines, and open conversation about AI's role in your organisation.

Measuring What Matters

The conversation took an exciting turn when Elly dove into the analytics side of AI. We're not just talking about open rates anymore – AI enables sentiment analysis, keyword tracking, and pattern recognition across employee feedback and turnover data. These insights can reshape everything from onboarding programmes to leadership development strategies. Dev added that AI makes data more accessible and visually digestible, democratising insights beyond the data specialists. Imagine having longitudinal data across quarters that actually informs your strategy, not just validates what you already know.

Keeping It Real

To register your interest for the 2026 Engage Employee Summit click here: https://www.engageemployee.com/engage-employee-summit-registration