The State Of AI Disruption And Innovation

How AI and emerging tech has changed the HR landscape in 2019, and what we expect in the coming year

Technology is in constant flux and evolution. This year in particular, technology has become a prominent focus for businesses. Whether it's leveraging it, competing against it, or adapting to it, AI and machine learning has certainly disrupted the status quo. Human Resources is one line of business that has truly felt the impact of innovation this year. We’ve been exposed to new concepts, seen industry wide adoption, and learned quite a bit about new tech. So, how can HR professionals brace for and embrace the coming AI advancements in 2020? 

Competing with technology has been a particularly hot topic this past year. This continuous evolution has brought about fear, panic, and conversation. Many fear that AI and similar technology will take over and eventually phase out their role within an organization, especially in the world of HR and recruitment. AI is capable of many things, including vetting resumes and candidates, and streamlining ATS. Chatbots have become increasingly more popular in the recruitment process, and are being used in the initial stages of communication with candidates. They’re designed to gather information, answer basic questions, and perform preliminary vetting of applicants. This AI function has become a competitive player in the world of HR. 

Though AI itself can be viewed as “competition” to human-occupied roles, remaining competitive in this changing landscape is another factor businesses must consider. In fact, nearly 75% of HR leaders view AI as imperative to business but only 31% feel truly ready to address it. This lack of confidence stems from an underpreparedness felt by many HR professionals. Many are seeking to integrate AI but do not have the proper leadership, resources, or talent to do so effectively. This, is another obstacle HR leaders must compete with and the question still remains, are there only certain aspects of HR which can rely on AI or will an entire profession of HR become completely automated?

Though AI and new technology is here to disrupt the status quo, it is a tool that HR professionals can leverage. When it comes to the recruitment process, a great deal of time is spent screening candidates and their resumes. Instead of viewing automation tools as a threat to your business and role in HR, use it to your advantage. There are many undesirable, mundane, and time-consuming components of HR which leaders can automate, which will enable them to devote more attention to high-value tasks and projects. AI systems can be used to improve employee experience, assist in talent searches, streamline ATS, and overall save time and improve efficiency. While HR touches every point in an organization, AI can be used to identify and address gaps between departments, in employee engagement, within internal processes and employee onboarding. 

After understanding the barriers and competition of AI, and knowing what to leverage, you can prepare to adapt and adopt it. With the fear and anxiety surrounding the adoption of new technology, it’s important to manage the expectations of your workforce and build a system that can support them during integration. As an HR leader, equip your people with the right tools and information to fully understand why the adoption is taking place. Start small, don’t implement everything at once. Trial and error is inevitable during the learning curve of any implementation, especially when it comes to new technology. Recognize this and address it. In addition, HR leaders must leverage, collect, and analyze data more intelligently. 

There’s no denying that AI and machine learning technology is here to stay. As time goes on, these technologies will continue to develop, improve, and change the way we as humans function in our daily lives. By 2022, $79.2 billion will be spent on AI systems globally. These staggering numbers emphasize the undeniable technological innovation, and the commitment to adoption by businesses. When it comes to HR, embracing AI can be daunting. But the time to adapt and adopt is now. Leverage this technology to improve your processes, reduce downtime, increase efficiency, and minimize the time spent on tedious repetitive tasks. AI is reinventing the world of HR.