Artificial intelligence chatbots are being incorporated into various business functions within organizations, but could they one day be deemed official AI employees?
Lattice, a human resources technology provider, introduced the concept of “digital workers,” with the notion of issuing the AI agents employee profiles and assimilating them into organizational structures.
“Within Lattice’s people platform, ‘digital workers’ will be securely onboarded, trained, and assigned goals, performance metrics, appropriate systems access, and even an accountable manager. Just as any person would be,” Lattice CEO Sarah Franklin announced in a company blog post last week.
This approach aimed to responsibly integrate AI into the workforce, governing the virtual employees with “transparency and accountability.”
The idea of treating AI chatbots as employees sparked mixed online reactions. Some argued that it disrespects human employees and oversimplifies the complexity of human work. This highlights the ongoing ethical and practical considerations surrounding AI integration in the workplace.
Franklin responded to the backlash, in an update to the blog post three days later, stating, “This innovation sparked a lot of conversation and questions that have no answers yet.” She added, “We look forward to continuing to work with our customers on the responsible use of AI, but will not further pursue digital workers in the product.”
Artificial Intelligence In The Workplace
A digital worker, or AI chatbot, is a sophisticated software entity designed to perform tasks autonomously to achieve specific business or personal objectives. This software is capable of perceiving their environment, making decisions and taking actions to accomplish goals without constant human intervention—though they may still require some level of human oversight or input.
AI agents have the ability to take initiative, learn and improve performance over time and communicate with other agents or humans.
As technology continues to evolve, these chatbots are likely to play an increasingly significant role in our lives and in the workforce.
AI In HR
Within HR, AI can automate several rote, routine tasks, improving efficiency and allowing human employees to focus on more strategic work.
AI can analyze résumés, identify qualified candidates and conduct initial screenings, streamlining the recruitment process. AI agents can automate the process of scheduling interviews, reducing administrative burden.
The technology can update and maintain employee records and automate general payroll tasks. It can handle various aspects of benefits management and track employee leave requests. AI can guide new employees through necessary paperwork and onboarding procedures, providing answers to commonly asked questions.
AI-powered chatbots can provide employees with self-service options for accessing HR information and submitting requests. It can help ensure compliance with HR regulations and flag potential issues. The software can analyze performance metrics and provide insights for evaluations. AI can personalize and recommend training programs based on individual employee needs and career goals. It can facilitate feedback mechanisms and analyze employee satisfaction levels.
AI agents can generate insights from HR data to support strategic decision-making.
By automating these mundane, everyday tasks, AI allows HR and talent acquisition professionals to focus on more complex, strategic initiatives that require human judgment and creativity. This shift allows HR teams to add more value to their organizations by concentrating on areas such as talent strategy, organizational development and employee experience enhancement.
Concerns About AI Integration
The fear of becoming obsolete is a growing concern amongst the labor force, with AI’s potential to replace or reduce certain jobs. AI assistants are expected to become more sophisticated and capable of autonomously handling complex tasks, the more they are trained. The trend is likely to continue, with AI chatbots potentially taking on more roles that were previously performed by humans.
“This evolution in AI brings both opportunities and challenges. With clear eyes, the idea of AI employees, or ‘digital workers,’ is not an entirely comfortable one. The inevitable arrival of these digital workers raises important questions about their integration, measurement, and impact on human jobs. And many of those questions are without clear answers or precedence,” Lattice’s CEO acknowledged in the blog post.
“What does it mean to hire a digital worker? How are they onboarded? How are they measured? What does this mean for my job? For the future jobs of our children? Will they share our values, or is that anthropomorphism of AI?” Franklin continued, “We are learning in real time and facing an ever-growing list of hard questions and challenges that we must navigate.”
Investment bank Goldman Sachs predicted in a 2023 report that the workforce in the United States and Europe would be upended, with 300 million jobs lost or diminished by this fast-growing technology.
In a survey conducted by ResumeBuilder, 37% of business leaders revealed they have already begun to replace staff with AI. Nearly half (44%) of the executive respondents stated they anticipate further jobs cuts in 2024 due to AI efficiency.
Source: Forbes
