In my last article, I discussed the difference between AI and GenAI – and the impacts of both in the workplace. Today, I want to dive into what this means for HR professionals and executives. There is a critical need to prepare for an increasingly AI-native workforce, and HR must reinvent itself to lead us through this next revolution.
Impacts on HR
HR leaders can drive AI innovation and adoption within their organizations by managing technical integration, culture, and motivation, while providing appropriate training and developing programs that cater to the varying responses of different working groups to AI integration. The rapid evolution of AI necessitates a proactive and nuanced approach to harness its potential while addressing its challenges in the workplace.
The role of the HR business partner is already starting to be impacted by the integration of AI into the corporate environment. AI can significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of an HR Business Partner to be more strategic and business-driven, thereby impacting every function throughout an organization. For instance, AI-powered analytics can provide deeper insights into employee performance, engagement, and retention, enabling HR business partners to make data-driven decisions much quicker. This could involve identifying patterns in employee turnover, predicting future staffing needs, or tailoring employee development programs more effectively. This information will be critical in evolving the organizational design of various teams across the organization. Traditional spans and layer ratios will need to be altered due to individuals becoming specialized in multiple disciplines as they leverage GenAI. There will be a transitionary period of change within team structures over the short term as teams collectively figure out the long-term impacts of GenAI on their ways of working.
However, the integration of AI also poses challenges. We need to ensure the ethical use of AI, maintaining employee privacy and data security. Additionally, we must manage the cultural shift within our organizations, addressing concerns and resistance from employees about AI tools. Training and development of both our teams and the broader employee base become crucial to ensure a smooth transition to AI-enhanced processes. A recent TikTok video revealed how candidates are leveraging GenAI in real time to answer interview questions, raising ethical questions around candidates cheating in remote interviews. Our teams are going to have to assist teams with regards to interview practices in the face of GenAI. We are going to have to assist our businesses with regards to interview practices in the face of GenAI, and develop strategies for identifying and mitigating unethical use of AI during recruitment processes to ensure fairness and integrity in hiring.
GenAI will continue to automate routine HR tasks such as screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and answering basic HR-related queries. These automations have been in the works for a few years now but can be further enhanced with GenAI to include additional facets like deep learning and personalization. GenAI can also transform people management by providing precise, relevant data to enhance fairness and efficiency in talent decisions. This democratization of information can empower managers, fostering inclusivity and proactive leadership through intuitive recommendations.
The Road Ahead
GenAI is revolutionizing the landscape at a speed never seen before. Technologies like ChatGPT have swiftly garnered global attention, finding rapid adoption among both corporations and individuals in record time. The evolution continues at a rapid pace, with new advancements and practical applications surfacing daily. The rate at which this technology transforms the world around us and continuously upgrades itself is unmatched by any prior technological innovation.
This highlights the urgency of the current moment. Achieving success in the GenAI era will require us to commit to ongoing learning to lead with empathy and humility, and create a work environment where employees feel positively supported. Think of it like this: Just as a successful head chef may not rely solely on traditional cooking techniques but also experiments with new flavors and culinary adventures, HR leaders today need to blend their expertise and business curiosity with a willingness to explore new technological frontiers. In an age where combining technological understanding with a strong focus on people is essential, leaders must be as adept with tech as they are with nurturing their team’s growth and development. “My experience in leveraging GenAI for DEI initiatives, combined with a commitment to ethical practices, underscores the power of GenAI. I’ve seen how this technology is key to organizational transformation, meeting people where they are and ensuring every voice is heard and valued,” says Sandhiya Thiruvengadam, a Sr. HR Business Partner and DEI enthusiast who has been leveraging GenAI into her people programs since last year.
It is imperative for organizations to actively facilitate a transition where most are positioned to leverage GenAI for advancement rather than experiencing a regression in their roles and negatively impacting their morale. AI’s emotional, cognitive, and behavioral impacts on employees are palpable and warrant immediate attention. Organizations must initiate and nurture inclusive dialogues, thereby co-creating a strategic approach to GenAI adoption that emphasizes human enhancement over obsolescence.
Those of us that chose to master GenAI can become key agents of change to shape the future of work. The essence of success with GenAI is in transforming it from a mere tool to a collaborator, effectively making technology an integral part of the workforce. Ultimately, the real strength of AI lies in enhancing human qualities like empathy, creativity, and ethics rather than surpassing human abilities.
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