Advertisment

Advertisment

Home » Knowledge Hub » » How to avoid the hype around AI to build a more positive workplace

How to avoid the hype around AI to build a more positive workplace

14 September 2020

Dr Naeema Pasha looks at how AI can have positive impact on workers' skills and happiness in a pandemic world

Dr Naeema Pasha Professional Development, People & Future of Work in Henley

Dr Naeema Pasha looks at how AI can have positive impact on workers' skills and happiness in a pandemic world

Hype – the world is filled with it. And when it comes to Artificial Intelligence this is particularly focused on how it is going to revolutionise our world, but the reality isn’t quite what the PR would suggest.

No, we won’t be sitting next to robot colleagues doing backflips anytime soon. However, AI is already impacting our work as so much of it is hidden in our apps on our phone, for example. Fitness app and maps you might be encouraged to use at work for wellbeing, and you are probably using apps for your emails – these all use AI.

There is no question that AI will be influencing our work more so as a result of Covid-19 as more firms look to adopt technologies to enable work to continue. Our work with Robot Process Automation (RPA) businesses say that they are having the highest number of enquiries as a result of Covid.

Artificial Intelligence was a term adopted by scientists almost 60 years ago who were looking into how computers might mimic humans. Through initial fits and starts, the research and application of AI has had a huge boost in recent years – fuelled by access to vast data sets and computing brute force – all set to leap forward with the advent of technologies such as 5G and Quantum computing.

Exciting stuff and the potential is enormous. But many employees and leaders see AI as one technology, we need to be mindful that AI is a host of technologies and, for those of us in the people sector, we need to think what is on the near horizon and what kind of impact that will make.

The AI we see today includes things like AI in automation tools, which will reduce the time and inaccuracies in routine work (think about invoicing, purchasing databases, emails to clients for reminders on payments, doing a good received etc). This kind of work could take several people several days to complete. An RPA will whizz round these systems and complete tasks in a fraction of the time. Because of the AI algorithms in the RPA, it will learn from the data it gets in, in order to build and improve – and become even more efficient.

Other forms of AI such as Natural Language Processing (NLP) are already used in HR teams to enable faster document reading, e.g. in hiring processes. NLP can understand nuances in language so won’t make the mistake of just picking up the word ‘leader’ in a CV without reading the context and looking for suitable synonyms, and can also translate from other languages with an understanding of idioms and slang. There are many other forms of AI which include computer vision, generative adversarial networks, and more. The applications can produce a driverless car, a song recommendation or a smarter insurance quote.

The experience of lockdown has enabled workplaces to really look at adapting their business model to a more flexible, autonomous working world, and now they want other technologies to enable better, more engaging remote working. According to digital strategist Richard Foster-Fletcher there may well be a positive movement towards Augmented Reality to enter the workplace.

He argues that while Zoom and Teams have played an invaluable role in the move to managing work during a pandemic, we all feel that the weight of many, many video calls can leave us tired and somewhat disconnected. He suggests there are business such as Outer Realm who are helping lead the platform shift from 2D screens to immersive spatial computing in the Real Estate industry and could now turn this type of tech into workplaces.

It is suggested that new information, that can be digitally layered onto our world and virtual business meetings, could evolve using face and emotion scanning technology to represent you accurately as an avatar in the virtual meeting space creating co-presence and connecting. The suggestion is that the mind reacts well to these, and an abstract avatar is just as convincing as a real avatar.

The critical thing for an HR professional to understand is that AI can enable workers to thrive in a modern workplace. HR teams will need to prioritise the processes that specific AI technologies can make more efficient. Also, as with all tech, it’s neither a panacea or something that doesn’t need hours and hours of thinking on enabling a strategy to proceed. It needs a lot of time to develop and plan. For example, with RPA introduction, many staff who work on routine admin tasks can be redeployed into work that is more interactive and creative. But we need to recognise that many staff may indeed lose their posts. As such, the scarring of this loss needs to be understood and a strategy developed to mediate against it.

Also, a panacea of remote workers with VR and AR headsets may enable work to continue in an enjoyable way, but HR will have to develop methodologies of how to develop a sense of belonging and organisational culture with their remote employees. Not an easy task, but an essential one.

Dr Naeema Pasha currently leads on Professional Development, People & Future of Work in Henley and established World of Work (WOW) to explore future of work readiness.

Topics

Share

Advertisment

Latest Events

Mar 2024 – Leveraging Digital Learning Tools: Empowering HR Teams for Success

In today's fast-paced business landscape, the role of HR teams is evolving rapidly. To stay competitive and foster organisational growth, companies must leverage effective learning programs strategically.

Mar 2024 – The Efficiency Programme: How HR can maximise technology benefits

There are huge promises and potential for the use of AI and technology in HR and in this session we discuss the best way ahead for HR for technology and AI use.

Effective Resourcing Models & How We Guarantee the Integrity of Inclusive Recruitment Regardless of Approach

A opportunity to debate how can we adopt a cohesive inclusive approach that enhances the candidate experience without creating barriers between us and the talent essential to your organisational success.

Feb 2024 – It’s All HR’s Fault

Despite being a trusted voice in the C-suite, HR is still viewed with distrust and outright disdain by many employees – the very people HR is there to support.
Its all HRs Fault On demand Webinar

Jan 2024 – Health and Wellbeing: Making it Personal

If you’re investing in a health and wellbeing strategy, you want to make sure it meets the needs of your workforce.

Dec 2023 – Year in Review 2023

In this webinar we brought back some of our previous 2023 webinar speakers who gave their view on the past 12 months.

Nov 2023 – Reward and Recognition for the International Workforce

In this webinar we explored the dispersed workplace and asked what it means to support employees all over the world.
Reward and Recognition for the International Workforce

Streamlining Year-End HR Operations

Providing seasonal support, ideas and inspiration, this webinar covered the challenges and opportunities presented to HR professionals at this time of year.
Streamlining year-end HR operations

Compensation Planning – The key to a motivated and satisfied workforce

Compensation and reward strategies have changed radically over the past few years with the impact of the pandemic and the trends that followed.
Compensation Planning - The key to a motivated and satisfied workforce

Oct 2023 – Talent Acquisition: Why your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is more important than ever

This webinar addressing talent acquisition majored on the Employee Value Proposition (EVP).
Talent Acquisition – Why your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) is more important than ever

Resourcing Models, Insource, Outsource or Hybrid what are the best solutions?

Discussions on the evening were led by two invited experts Jim Richardson, with spells at Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland as Global Head of Talent, Jim now advises corporate businesses on their TA models, and, Ross Crook, Managing Director at Sanderson Solutions.
Resourcing models round table

Sep 2023 – Retention: Holding on to The Talent You Need

The post-pandemic workforce now presents more of a challenge in terms of feeling satisfied and content in the workplace. This webinar on retention also provided a masterclass on employee engagement.
Retention holding on to the talent you need

Aug 2023 – Professional Development: Making the Step Up

What does it take to be an HR Director, or to take a position at Board level? This webinar looked at professional development for HR leaders.
What does it take to be an HR Director?

Jul 2023 – Employee Benefits: Then, now and next

The importance and value of giving employees choice on rewards and recognition.
Employee benefits, then now and next.

Jun 2023 – HR Data: The Key To Delivering Real Value

This webinar on HR Data brought home the importance of understanding the value of people data not just to HR but to the business as a whole.
HR on demand event - HR data: the key to delivering real value

RPO Market – Insource, Outsource or Hybrid: What are the best solutions?

The HR World and Sanderson Managed Services Ltd held an exclusive Round Table dinner to explore and debate the current RPO arena.

AI as part of the hiring, on-boarding and retention processes

The HR World and Sanderson Managed Services Ltd held an exclusive Round Table dinner to further the discussion of AI among Senior HR Leaders.

May 2023 – AI in HR: The Perfect Balance

AI is hitting the headlines right now as experts forecast a future that’s powered by tech. But what will this mean for HR?
On demand hr webinar - Ai in HR

Apr 2023 – HR Tech: Ensuring your technology delivers for all your people

Technology continues to throw challenges at the HR function as the speed of change increases and new technology (anyone noticed something called AI?) enters the arena.
HR tech on demand webinar with Sympa

Mar 2023 – Equality, diversity, and inclusion: Reshaping thinking for action

In this webinar we explored how ED&I can have a real impact for businesses. At the centre of the discussion was the idea of changing thinking in order to make things happen.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion: Reshaping thinking for action

Feb 2023 – Leading With Agility: How to give your business the behaviours and mindsets it needs for volatile times

This webinar took as its focus agility and how businesses can develop and maintain these skills among its workforce.
This webinar took as its focus agility and how businesses can develop and maintain these skills among its workforce.

Jan 2023 – How can you create a culture of health and wellbeing in the workplace?

This webinar tackled the important and timely issue of creating a health and wellbeing culture in the workplace.
How can you create a culture of health and wellbeing in the workplace?

Hiring Gen Z – what can employers learn about emerging talent in 2023?

Join us at this cross-learning, in-person event as part of The HR World Culture Clash series at RSA House in London on 20 Oct 2022.
Hiring Gen Z: Culture Clash Panellists

Bridging the gap: what can employers learn about emerging talent to drive better hiring strategies?

Join us at this cross-learning, in-person event as part of The HR World Culture Clash series, bringing HRDs, founders and emerging talent together to build a better workforce for the future.
Bridging the gap: what can employers learn about emerging talent to drive better hiring strategies?
HRW Membership@2x@2x

Are you a senior HR professional?

Join our membership to shape the future of work, get exclusive access to events, white papers and research content, profile your work, gain access to support from HR experts and celebrate your successes.

Become a Partner

Please get in touch to talk about how we can help your business make an impact in the world of work through our content marketing, partnership plans and advertising.