May 12, 2025
What Role Does AI and Technology Play in the Future of Social Care
At Blooming Day 2025, one of the most thought-provoking conversations tackled a timely and complex question: Can artificial intelligence drive a more sustainable future for social care?
Moderated by Paolo Narciso, Principal at Core Immersive, the session brought together three powerhouse voices from healthcare, government, and innovation:
Theodora Lau, Book Author & Founder, Unconventional Ventures
John Maynard, Principal Industry Consultant, Government & Healthcare, RFC Global Practice, SAS Institute
Dr. Pete Clardy, Senior Staff Clinical Specialist & Lead of the Clinical Enterprise Team, Google
Together, they explored how AI is shaping the future of care—not as a replacement for human connection, but as a tool to reclaim time, rebuild trust, and scale what’s most human.
It’s Not About Faster. It’s About Better.
Theodora Lau opened the discussion with a bold reframing, “We celebrate 10-click account openings, but what people actually need is access to financial security, housing, and care.”
She emphasized that in both financial services and social care, we must move beyond efficiency metrics and focus on measurable, human outcomes. “Older adults and caregivers don’t need speed—they need support.”
High Tech Meets High Touch
Dr. Pete Clardy, a pulmonary and critical care physician, brought his experience from the ICU and his current work at Google to the table. What he’s seen time and again, fragmented data, delayed decisions, and clinicians overwhelmed by screen time.
“AI isn’t here to replace providers or caseworkers—it’s here to empower them,” he explained. “When used correctly, AI can reduce the noise, automate the drudgery, and free us up to focus on eye contact, compassion, and judgment—the things only humans can offer.”
The Social Worker's Dilemma
John Maynard shared both policy insights and a deeply personal story as a caregiver for his father. Despite his extensive government experience, he found navigating disconnected benefits systems overwhelming.
“I knew the programs. I knew the rules. I still felt lost,” he said. “That’s the cost of systems that don’t talk to each other—and that’s the opportunity for AI.”
His vision? A multilingual, multi-channel system that adapts to the user—not the other way around.
Know When to Automate—And When to Pick Up the Phone
A key message throughout the panel: AI must strike a balance between high tech and high touch. Use automation to simplify complexity, speed up referrals, and eliminate redundancy. But don’t lose the human moments—the conversation, the compassion, the check-in.
As Clardy reminded the audience, “Technology should serve relationships, not replace them.”
Building Trust, Bridging Gaps
From accessibility to language support, the panelists highlighted the urgent need to design AI tools that reflect the diverse realities of underserved communities. With over 7,000 living languages globally and major gaps in device access, AI must be built with equity in mind.
Community-based organizations are uniquely positioned to lead this shift by training trusted messengers, embedding tools in local workflows, and putting the community voice first.
So… Does AI Hold the Key?
AI won’t fix social care overnight. But when used ethically and intentionally, it can:
Scale trusted engagement across languages and channel
Free up care teams to focus on people, not paperwork
Improve access to public benefits and critical services
Restore humanity to systems that too often feel cold and bureaucratic
As Paolo closed the he said, “It’s not about high tech versus high touch. It’s about knowing when to use each—and using them both to serve human dignity.”
Ready to harness AI and automation to reach more people with care? Blooming Health helps government agencies, CBOs, and health systems use smart tools to streamline service delivery, improve outcomes, and reduce burnout—without sacrificing the human touch.
Contact us today to see how our AI-powered platform can help your team scale human connection.
