Accelerate Well-Being
In a time of accelerating change — technological, social, ecological — we can’t assume human flourishing will keep pace. “Progress” too often means more output, more efficiency, more growth — even as fragmentation, inequity, and burnout deepen.
Accelerating well-being means choosing a different compass: making human flourishing (in its full, multidimensional sense) the benchmark for progress, not an afterthought.
Well-being is multidimensional — drawing on frameworks such as the Multidimensional Well-Being in Youth Scale (MWYS), we understand that flourishing includes emotional, relational, physical, moral, and aspirational dimensions — not just “happiness” or “mental health.”
It connects across scales — individual, collective, institutional, systemic. It’s not enough for one person to thrive if communities fracture or systems erode.
It’s future-oriented and adaptive — accelerating well-being means building resilience, foresight, and flexibility — so people can thrive amid turbulence, not just under ideal conditions.
It reshapes how we use technology and policy — for example, the AI + Well-Being Institute positions AI not as a spectacle or abstract tool, but as a lever to support human and social resilience, narrative insight, and equitable engagement.
The AI+Wellbeing Institute
In short:
We accelerate well-being because we want a world where progress is measured not just in metrics, but in the depth, diversity, and sustainability of human and communal flourishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “accelerating well-being” mean?
Acceleration usually describes technology or markets — things moving faster. We ask: what if human flourishing advanced just as quickly?
Accelerating well-being means intentionally applying energy, creativity, and innovation toward deeper, more equitable forms of human and collective flourishing.
How is this different from traditional “wellness” or “happiness” programs?
Most wellness initiatives focus on individuals and symptoms — stress reduction, productivity, or balance.
We approach well-being as multidimensional and systemic: emotional, social, ethical, ecological, and spiritual. Flourishing is not a luxury; it’s the foundation of resilient communities and sustainable progress.
What does “multidimensional” mean here?
Drawing on frameworks such as the Multidimensional Well-Being in Youth Scale (MWYS) and broader research across psychology, philosophy, and social science, we view well-being as a network of interrelated dimensions — mental, physical, social, moral, and aspirational.
To strengthen one dimension while neglecting others is to build imbalance; true flourishing means balance and depth across life’s many layers.
Why talk about acceleration now?
Because the pace of change — technological, environmental, cultural — has outstripped our capacity to adapt well.
If we can accelerate innovation, we can also accelerate care, meaning, and connection. The challenge is not speed itself, but direction.
What role does AI play?
AI can amplify the best — or the worst — of human systems.
At the AI + Well-Being Institute, we use AI as a tool to illuminate patterns of flourishing, expand access to learning, and support reflective, equitable decision-making. Technology becomes a partner in empathy, not a substitute for it.
Who benefits from accelerating well-being?
Everyone — but especially those most affected by systems of inequity, burnout, and rapid disruption.
By designing for flourishing at every level — individual, institutional, and planetary — we make progress that lasts.
How can people get involved?
Join our workshops, research collaborations, or learning programs.
You can also explore our open-source resources and AI tools for well-being, or connect with our network of educators, designers, and researchers committed to building futures that feel more whole.