Artificial Intelligence? What is Artificial Intelligence? Are we scared of AI or are we eager to use it completely to our benefit?
When people think about AI, the first thing that usually comes to their mind is robotics, and robots overtaking people’s work — and this is scary. But what is AI? How can we define it? The simplest definition would be an algorithm that is managed by the people for the people — to ease the work of the people, increase accuracy, efficiency, provide new ways of working — and it is never separated from the human aspect (the people).
Nevertheless, as a topic it is so pervasive that it certainly has a great influence, not only in manufacturing, and production industries, but also over HR. There are many HR areas where AI is employed and it works hand by hand with humans. Some of them are the following:
- Selection of resumes;
- Filing reviews;
- Choosing the best candidate — and this is not isolated from the human touch, at the end the human is the one that decides whether the choice is good or no;
- Paperwork management;
- Predictions whether people will quit or no by only checking the context of the emails with an accuracy of 99%;
- Proactivity tracking;
- Learning and development, assessments, etc.
But, can Artificial Intelligence replace people or?
Though AI is widely spread, and it continues spreading there is one thing for which it might remain on a lower level compared to people (if of course, nothing changes in the future) and that’s the consciousness. The machines (algorithms) work on the basis of data, Big Data, there is no consciousness, no empathy, nothing. And moreover, that data is inserted by people, i.e. the intelligence behind every algorithm is the human being — we are the ones that are creative, we dream, we make things up, we feel things, we express emotions, we have vision AND machines do not have any of that.
It is normal to fear that AI might take over jobs — it is still unknown and we usually have fear of the unknown. Institute Dale Carnegie has made an online study regarding AI and people’s opinion on it (3586 respondents in over 11 countries and different industries and company sizes) and these are the results:
- 84% believe that AI will positively change the way we work and live in the next 10 years;
- 70% believe that AI will positively impact their work, allowing them to focus on more meaningful work, but 43% are worried that they might lose their job as a result of AI — which is a huge number;
- Additional concerns that appear are related to the security of people’s data — the way the data is being used, whether it is safe or no, whether the results are appropriate, what will happen if AI doesn’t work as it is expected to work.
How can these fears be overcome? The best way to do it is by explaining clearly to the employees what AI is doing, by being transparent, by having a trustworthy leadership in the organization and most importantly by increasing people’s confidence that they can adapt to the changes that AI imposes.
To sum up, AI is a positive influence in today’s world and it will continue being like that. Fears will continue existing that AI can overtake people’s jobs until we reach the moment where we understand that AI is missing the social moment — no machine can replace the empathy that only human beings have — at least not for now.
Currently, AI provides insights, results, based on the data submitted by humans, it proposes a decision, but it is up to the human to decide whether this decision is correct or it should be changed. So, we have a combination of the outcomes — the judgment of the machine and our own judgment.
Having in mind all these things, it is up to managers, and HR to prepare their employees about AI. The best way to do it is by being transparent and open about the value of the employees in the working process, and that the people are the key to success.
What are your thoughts on Artificial Intelligence and HR? Have you encountered some problems in your organization related to AI?
