12-10-2023 Top Workplaces - Flipbook - Page 38
COMMENTARY
What’s the future of AI in human
resources and the workplace?
BY BOB HELBIG
A
lthough most workplaces are not using artificial intelligence, the technology is getting attention and raising some concerns, a recent Top Workplaces
survey shows.
Organizations are embracing human resources technology solutions, but our research
reveals that AI adoption remains relatively low. That said, AI holds immense potential,
from streamlining operations to enabling data-driven decision-making and unlocking
valuable insights.
In the big picture, AI is the use of computing to perform tasks normally carried out by
people. It most often refers to projects that
capture information and deliver it in a way that
simulates actions, purpose, reasoning, meaning
or learning. AI is used in manufacturing (think
robots), self-driving cars, health care management, financial investing, booking travel, social
media monitoring and chatbots.
In human resources, AI can be used for
things such as scanning resumes, social listening, data aggregation, background checks,
measuring employee satisfaction, optimizing
benefit offerings and a host of other uses.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to use AI to
make people’s jobs easier or better so they can
concentrate more of their time and efforts on
higher-level tasks or things they just enjoy
doing more,” said Kinsey Smith, senior people
scientist at Energage, the firm that conducts
Top Workplaces surveys.
Energage recently surveyed more than
15,000 employees to get their feedback on
human resources technology and AI. The
survey revealed 1 in 6 employees are concerned
about AI impacting their work, especially those
who work in advertising and marketing; hospitality, entertainment, recreation and travel; and
financial services and insurance.
Furthermore, 1 in 9 employees believe AI
might replace their job in the next five years,
particularly in utilities and communications;
hospitality, entertainment, recreation, and
travel; and financial services and insurance.
The survey feedback revealed:
38 | 2023 | TOP WORKPLACES
The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone
in front of a computer screen, which displays
output from ChatGPT. MICHAEL DWYER/AP
· People are both excited and worried about
the potential impact of AI.
· Few organizations currently use AI for
human resources tasks or issues.
· Most organizations have human resources
information systems, onboarding and performance management solutions.
· More than 1 in 3 organizations do not have
tools for employee listening or employee selection.
· Responders were most satisfied with their
employee appreciation and onboarding tools.
· Human resources information systems and
recruiting technologies were considered most
valuable.
· Common obstacles hindering the value
of these tools included integration and setup
effort.
· Senior managers expressed little concern
about AI in the workplace, whereas team
members showed more concern.
Organizations were most likely to lean on
third-party tools for human resources information systems. They used homegrown solutions most often for employee appreciation and
performance management.
Although the majority have not yet adopted
AI technology, responders said talent acquisition was the task they most hoped the technology could assist in the future.
Smith said the best use of AI should be seen
as a resource that supplements work, not
something that supplants workers. AI can be
a springboard for more thoughtful strategies
and conversations, for example.
“It’s just a tool,” Smith said, and it’s up to
organizations to figure out the best uses — and
the wrong uses — of that tool.
There are safeguard considerations, she
said. Organizations need to consider how AI
interacts with data, from a privacy and legal
standpoint, as well as whether it creates security concerns.
Also, is the information it creates fully accurate or truthful? Humans still will need to
verify the outcome of the work. AI does not
necessarily operate with a level of morality,
she said.
“Trying to understand how all of those
pieces fit together is interesting,” she said. “It’s
something we will have to grapple with as a
society. Technology will move us forward, and
new jobs will also be created. We will have to
be thoughtful about what tasks we want to be
taken on.”
Bob Helbig is media partnerships director at
Energage, a Philadelphia-based employee survey
firm. Energage is The Baltimore Sun’s survey
partner for Top Workplaces.