OCTOBER 13, 2024

Will AI Take Over HR?

I get asked all the time.

It’s already replacing tasks (and jobs), making people more efficient, and affecting how we work. 

I would say, yes, it’s going to be a full-blown game changer, but no, not a full take-over.

There are some things in HR where AI can significantly change the game in a good way, but there are also parts I definitely don’t want. 

The part that I really want is efficiency. 

We recently had around 100 people apply for a customer service account manager role, and we used AI to screen the candidates. I was really pleased when in a few minutes, it selected 10 strong candidates for us to consider, based on our criteria.

Huge time saver. 

Another area I see potential for major change is data analysis. One of our clients used AI to analyze mounds of employee survey data to examine trends, sentiment, recommendations, and desires. 

However, AI was no replacement for her experience telling her what to do with that analysis. 

I still believe that we need a human being for the interpretation, and not because AI can’t interpret the data, but because there’s still a human touch that’s required.

And that’s an example of where the line should be drawn, in my opinion. I still feel HR people will always be needed for the human touch. 

What is “the human touch?” For me, it’s in your being available.

The human touch speaks to the lived experience.

It’s when an employee is going through a crisis, and you help your organization show up in support of them.

The human touch could be creating a new policy, creating an emergency fund, or just listening. 

When an employee has potential and talent but is struggling, and their manager just can’t get them unleashed, then you come in to help them put together a plan, or find them the right resources, or collaborate to turn things around…that’s the human touch.

And here’s the risk. That people just hand over the human touch to the machines. 

We’re already seeing it when people just do what AI tells them, or believe what AI tells them. 

As humans, we bring curiosity, emotional intelligence, open-mindedness, and more, to challenge existing norms to fuel critical thinking. 

Lazy leaders, fearful leaders, or status quo leaders will not do the hard work.

If you would like help navigating the challenges of HR AI, or using it to improve your operations, reach out. Contact us. We’re here for you.