Have we really thought through AI?
I am not an expert on AI by an stretch of the imagination but I am learning, slowly – because I feel I have to.
Organisations seem to be getting on board and using AI more and more, which I think has taken me by surprise. But maybe it shouldn’t have as there has is a focus on efficiency and productivity for organisations, yet I wonder whether this has really been thought through, particularly from a boarder, whole of society perspective.
I suppose, like many things, it is really comes down to how AI is used and to what extent it is used.
One of my concerns is the impact it has on the workforce, and more importantly, the impact on people within the workforce. Perhaps to a lesser extent, the concern is that AI will role and opportunities away. More so, I worry about whether it removes roles and opportunities from those who rely on work that AI can now perform, and who many not have the capacity or opportunity to transition into higher level roles.
Beyond that, I am concerned about whether it takes away from people using their own brains – developing their own skills, which is so important – and whether there is a risk of relying on AI too heavily. There are also issues of accuracy (which may improve over time) but also authenticity (dependant on the task). Remember, the old saying, ‘If you don’t use it, you lose it.’ I think there is real truth in that. It is spoken about from a physical, cognitive, skills and knowledge perspectives and even broadly. AI, I believe, may impact the cognitive and skills and knowledge areas.
I recently read an article from AHRI that articled exactly what I had been thinking. It referred to the Hebbian Theory, cells that fire together, wire together. The brain strengthens what is practices and sheds what it doesn’t, so it is very real.
Because of this, I hope people are at least thinking for themselves first and t hen using AI to check or enhance what have done. Used this way, AI can be powerful, helpful, and efficient, but not if they are using it to do the thinking for us. As highlighted in the article I read, skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, cognitive ability and others are at risk. I have heard some cool ways that people have used it to save them time and certainly not take away their own thinking, creativity and individual flare. So, it can save time, which is great, but it takes the thinking away, then I think the usage of AI has gone too far.
I also recently came across an example of where a supervisor was using AI to review their teams work. It was perceived that the work was being changed or change sake and offered little real value. Over time, it became soul destroying to the individual and lead to a number of risks and costs to the business. Just because AI can do something doesn’t mean its better! That leads me to another article I read, explaining that employees want thoughtful implementation of AI to streamline systems and fairness. Employees are looking for AI for structure and consistency. They still want Managers and humans for inspiration, understanding and connection – to do what humans do best.
The other thing for me, is authenticity. I would much prefer to read an article to feel or know that someone was thinking of me as a reader when writing it, or to know that I wrote it with authenticity (and yes I did!), but that’s important to me and my brand.
Leisa Messer BBus(HRM); GradDipIR; FCPHR
Managing Director | HR Strategist
leisa.messer@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
hrbd.com.au