Does AI Take The “Human” Out of HR?
How can AI benefit HR?
AI has been the hot topic of the year. The technology has made significant strides over the past few years, making it a viable tool to begin incorporating in the workplace. Some industries are more weary of it than others, the world of HR being one of them. Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, but is it going to take the “human” out of human resources?
A recent article published by LinkedIn describes how companies can benefit from incorporating AI-infused training processes for their employees. These new processes are called Instructional Design. Instructional Design makes training one-size-fits-one. With the ability to provide personalized feedback, it can identify areas of improvement and provide targeted training to address those areas, resulting in more efficiency and effectiveness.
Anjela Mangrum, founder of manufacturing recruitment agency Mangrum Career Solutions, sees potential for AI in maximizing employee development.
“I … think there’s a lot of potential for AI to customize employee training, creating data-based career paths for each individual instead of the traditional generic focus on helping employees gain in-demand business skills,” Mangrum said. “By tracking the unique learning methods of professionals, AI can help develop your workforce by providing individualized recommendations for skills training.”
Larger corporations have begun implementing Instructional Design to training and further develop the skills of their frontline workers. There are a few companies who have found success after enacting AI-infused training.
- Walmart uses AI to provide personalized training to its employees. The AI system analyzes data and provides targeted training to employees. This has resulted in improved job performance and increased employee satisfaction.
- McDonalds uses VR to provide immersive training experiences to its employees. The VR system simulates real-life situations and provides employees with an opportunity to practice their skills in a safe and controlled environment.
- IBM uses AI to create personalized training programs for its employees. The AI system analyzes data and provides targeted training to employees. This has resulted in improved job performance and increased employee satisfaction.
While some HR professionals have easily embraced AI in the industry, others are more weary of its advancements.
A study by Business News Daily stated that 73% of surveyed HR leaders stated that they use AI for recruitment and hiring processes. More recently, a study by Harvard Business school found that of that 73%, 88% learned those tools were rejecting qualified candidates.
This was due to job descriptions having too many qualifications, creating a long list of data for algorithms to check for in resumes. Extended work gaps for legitimate life events, like pregnancy, military deployment or illness, would also pose as a red flag when filtered through AI software.
AI on its own cannot give the complete picture of a candidate’s situation. 
While AI continues to enhance how companies develop and retain talent, it is important for professionals to realize that AI shouldn’t replace the human touch in HR!