How We Use AI: SME AI Assistants & More
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of our working world—including at pme Familienservice an EAP provider. Using practical examples, we’ll show you exactly how we use AI in various areas:
From our internal platform Nova to the childcare center, all the way to digital assistants in our consulting services, such as LUCA, ELKI, and MIA. Throughout it all, data protection, practicality, and people are always at the center of our focus.
What you can expect in this article:
Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: Between Opportunities and Responsibility
Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November 2022, AI has been making its way into our daily lives with increasing frequency and speed. Whether in our personal lives or at work, AI is everywhere and is rapidly transforming the world of work.
AI has become indispensable in the fields of editorial work and communication, particularly when it comes to creating and editing images, videos, audio, or text. But AI can also be helpful in the provision of consulting and intermediary services, such as automatic translation, summarizing conversations, or searching for relevant information and potential solutions.
"AI is here to stay. Whether we like it or not, we all need to address the opportunities and risks of AI—both as a company and as team members." –Dr. Daniel Erler, Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
For example, the pme Familienservice is actively leveraging AI applications to enhance its services and customer support and to make work easier for its own team members.
In our "AI and Learning" event series, we team up with our experts and top speakers to offer practical tips and valuable insights on how to use AI—both at work and in everyday life!
AI in SMEs: Approach, Protection, and Benefits
The pme AI Code of Conduct sets out the framework for all AI use within the company. Our stance is clear: we use AI to further develop our offerings, improve collaboration, and reduce the workload on teams—not to replace human labor with technology.
We therefore consistently rely on blended coaching. AI complements our consulting services and processes, but never replaces the personal relationship or professional responsibility. For us as an EAP provider, this means:
- AI makes it easier to get started with our products and serves as a reliable guide.
- It streamlines administrative processes: faster appointment scheduling, easy access to information, and shorter wait times for routine matters.
- AI creates space for what really matters: personal consultation and one-on-one interaction.
pme also adheres to the highest standards when it comes to data protection:
- Every AI application undergoes a thorough risk assessment before it is deployed.
- Our systems are continuously monitored, and all data processing takes place exclusively within the European legal framework—in strict compliance with the GDPR and the provisions of the EU AI Act
- We never use our customers’ and employees’ data to train external AI systems.
About the pme AI Code of Conduct
Nova: pme's internal AI platform
With Nova, pme provides an internal, privacy-compliant AI platform that is consistently tailored to the needs and daily routines of our teams. The technical foundation for this is provided by Langdock.
A key advantage:
- We can flexibly deploy various AI models
- and adapt the platform to a wide variety of use cases.
It was particularly important to us to ensure that all team members had access to AI —regardless of whether they work in consulting, administration, childcare center other departments.
"We see it as our responsibility as an employer to provide opportunities for professional development in the field of AI. That is why we made a conscious decision to make our AI platform, Nova, available to everyone in the company." – Michael Kühnen, Head of IT at pme Familienservice
With Nova, employees from various departments can work with AI efficiently and securely. They can:
- Create texts efficiently,
- Document the course of consultations,
- Get routine tasks done quickly,
- Connecting knowledge within the company
- and rethink many creative activities.
Nova is designed to make it easy to add new features and use cases—from everyday conveniences to complex automations. At the same time, Nova protects all data in accordance with the strictest standards set forth in our AI Code of Conduct.
It is worth prioritizing clear usage guidelines, high transparency, and ongoing training right from the design and implementation phases.
By actively involving employees and regularly raising their awareness of the opportunities and limitations of AI, organizations can foster acceptance and innovation in the use of AI.
AI in the childcare center
"We don’t view AI as an end in itself, but as a tool that must serve children and childcare professionals. Together with our teams, we’re exploring where AI offers real added value and where its limitations lie. Data protection and educational responsibility always come first."– Benjamin Hendrik Mahl, Central childcare center, pme Familienservice
In our pme Lernwelten childcare centers Nova significantly lightens the load for teams when it comes to routines and administrative tasks. Meal plans can be generated automatically, and letters to parents as well as documentation can be prepared in just a few minutes and in various languages.
Educational work with children also offers interesting opportunities for the use of AI, such as when AI is used to turn the children’s ideas into pictures or stories. Continue reading here:“Why AI childcare center in childcare center ”.
This gives the team more freedom—and keeps the children at the center of attention.
Digital AI Assistants in Counseling: Parents & Children, Life Coaching, Law
In our consulting services, we also rely on the strategic combination of AI and personal interaction, in line with our blended coaching approach.
"Our bots don’t operate on their own. You can always connect with our expert advisors. For us, blended coaching means support, not a replacement. The value of human expertise always comes first."– Katharina Opper, AI Unit at pme Familienservice
ELKI: AI Assistant in the pme Parenting Counseling Service
“ELKI” was the first AI assistant developed in-house by pme Familienservice has been in use since January 2025. Our AI assistant ELKI has since established itself as the most widely used self-service solution in pme’s parental counseling service. The assistant provides quick and reliable answers to all questions regarding parental leave, parental allowance, or maternity leave —in both German and English.
All content on ELKI is developed and reviewed by pme subject matter experts. This allows us to provide our users with a high level of trust and reliability that goes far beyond what is typically offered by standard search engines or freely available AI tools.
It’s not just employees who benefit from ELKI; HR professionals and managers, in particular, can make targeted use of the service:
You’ll receive reliable information on topics such as special cases—including multiple births, unused vacation leave, or rare legal situations in employment relationships. In this way, ELKI provides clarity, supports internal consulting, and helps minimize uncertainties or potential conflicts early on.
Would you like to try ELKI? Employees of our client companies who have the appropriate contract can use our AI assistant, ELKI, onFamilienservice Mein.Familienservice .
Not yet a customer of pme Familienservice? Contact us!
LUCA: Digital Coaching Assistant
With LUCA, pme Familienservice offers Familienservice innovative, AI-powered coaching assistant on the Mein.Familienservice , based on the methodologies of systemic counseling and solution-focused brief therapy.
"Many people are unwilling or unable to speak with a counselor in certain situations; some prefer to remain alone or anonymous at first. With LUCA, we have the right solution for them." – Jutta Dreyer, Product Manager for Life Situation Coaching
Whether dealing with stress, conflicts in family or work life, or difficult decisions, LUCA helps users navigate stressful or confusing situations by
- to sort through thoughts and feelings,
- to gain new perspectives on their situation,
- to tap into their own resources and come up with solutions.
With Luca, pme Familienservice offers Familienservice low-threshold, privacy-compliant space for structured reflection —and thus a tool that can be used both to prepare for in-person coaching sessions and to explore a topic in greater depth between counseling appointments.
LUCA lowers the barrier to seeking support and fosters the ability to reflect on challenges early on and independently.
In addition, digital self-reflection can facilitate lasting behavioral changes, ease the burden on managers, and, in the long term, enhance employee satisfaction and teamwork.
Employees of our client companies who have the appropriate contract can use our AI assistant, LUCA, onFamilienservice Mein.Familienservice .
MIA: AI Assistant for Legal Matters
MIA is the AI-powered legal assistant at pme Familienservice make it easier to get started with legal consultations. Anyone with a legal question or a specific issue can simply enter it into the AI chat with MIA:
- MIA organizes the information,
- classifies it under the appropriate legal category
- and forwards a summary to our specialized attorneys.
This ensures that your inquiry is communicated directly and in a structured manner. This saves time and ensures more efficient, targeted advice. Like the other pme AI assistants, MIA is GDPR-compliant and adheres to the data protection principles of the pme AI Code. In addition, our attorneys are bound by professional confidentiality.
"With MIA, we provide quick, initial guidance on legal issues and make it easier for people to seek support."– Melanie Besold, attorney at pme Familienservice
Learn more about our “pme law” service, which provides legal advice to employees and businesses.
With MIA, ELKI, LUCA, and the Nova AI platform, we are committed to responsible, practical AI solutions. This allows us to create offerings that meet both the current demands of the workplace and the needs of our employees and customers.
Request an EAP consultation from pme now
Frequently Asked Questions About AI at pme
What is Nova, and who can use it?
Nova is our in-house, privacy-compliant AI platform—available to all pme team members, from childcare center to expert consulting. Nova streamlines text processing, research, and knowledge management.
Will AI assistants like ELKI or LUCA replace in-person consultations?
No. AI tools complement our consulting services by providing quick, reliable information and opportunities for reflection. For individual concerns or complex issues, in-person consulting remains our priority.
How secure is my data when using AI?
All AI applications at pme meet the highest data protection standards. Your data is processed exclusively within the EU and is never used for external training purposes.
What benefits do pme's AI assistants offer HR professionals and managers?
The pme AI assistants provide fast and reliable information at any time, all of which has been reviewed in advance by subject matter experts. They help relieve HR and managers of routine inquiries and offer guidance on complex issues. For individual cases, personalized consulting is always available as a supplementary service.
