How AI is Revolutionising HR: Trends and Future Applications
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve and penetrate more industries, it was only a matter of time until it made its way into human resources. AI is now being used to automate and optimise many HR processes, from recruiting and onboarding to performance management and payroll.
While some may fear that AI will replace human workers in HR, the truth is that these HR solutions will actually allow HR professionals to focus on more strategic tasks and create a more efficient and effective workplace. In this article, we will explore the major trends in AI-driven HR and how businesses can start implementing this technology today.
Major AI trends in HR
There are several major trends that we are seeing in artificial intelligence right now. Regarding HR, AI is changing the entire industry from hiring to onboarding and even retention. The first trend that we are seeing is with recruitment. AI is being used for job evaluation to identify potential candidates for a role by scanning through resumes and social media profiles. It can also conduct initial interviews to shortlist candidates. This helps to speed up the process of recruiting as well as reduce bias in the selection process.
Another area seeing major AI integration is employee training and development. AI can be used to create customised learning programmes for employees based on their needs and abilities, helping employees learn more effectively and boost their skills. Performance review tasks such as tracking employee productivity or identifying areas for improvement are also getting a boost from AI. This can help managers identify potential retention risks and take steps to prevent employees from leaving the company.
27% of HR leaders think that AI-powered solutions for employee training will have a positive impact.
All of these trends are helping to change the landscape of HR. Artificial intelligence is revolutionising how we hire, train, develop and manage our workforce. It is offering new possibilities and opportunities for businesses everywhere. However, like with any new technology, some challenges need to be overcome before the HR community can fully embrace AI.
The Challenges of AI
One challenge is that many people are still unsure about what artificial intelligence actually is and what it can do. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation that needs to be addressed. Another challenge is that AI can be expensive and may not be accessible to all, with many smaller businesses unable to afford the technology.
AI can also often be seen as threatening by employees and future job prospects. For these people, AI is a considerable concern. Artificial intelligence has indeed proved effective at replacing low-level jobs that include repetitive tasks with specific instructions. However, AI has yet to match human creativity and lateral thinking, so currently, a lot of high-end positions are safe.
Image source: https://www.raconteur.net/what-you-need-to-know-about-robots-replacing-workers-in-5-charts/
That's not to mention all the hurdles of implementing new software into a business. Leaders need to ensure that it will be used effectively and efficiently, which means that not only does the software have to be easy enough for employees to use, but also that it has been customised to meet the specific needs of the company. Configuring a piece of software correctly can often take substantial time and resources, and this can be a major obstacle when trying to introduce change within an organisation. In addition, there is always likely to be some resistance from employees when changes are made. Especially if they feel like their jobs might be at risk from AI.
Despite this, the rapid expansion of AI means it is only a matter of time before these concerns are addressed and we see more widespread implementation of AI in human resources. Whether that's solving problems with employee retention, improving staff satisfaction levels, or finding unique ways to improve productivity.
Types of Artificial Intelligence
There are three types of Artificial Intelligence that are commonly used in HR: machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. Each of these types of AI has its own unique benefits that can be helpful in human resources.
Machine learning is a type of AI that can learn on its own by increasing its processing power and memory over time. This type of AI is able to make predictions by recognising patterns in data. The benefits of machine learning in HR are that it can help to automate repetitive tasks, identify potential employees, and predict employee retention.
Deep learning is a more advanced form of machine learning that uses multiple layers of neural networks to learn from data. It can help to improve decision-making by understanding the nuances of human behaviour. It can also be used to automatically screen resumes, identify high-quality candidates, and predict employee performance. Another major factor of this type of AI is its ability to learn from experience, which means it can improve over time.
Natural language processing (NLP) is a type of AI that can understand human language and extract information from it. This type of AI can be used to read and analyse employee reviews, comments, and surveys.
Some of the other most notable benefits include:
🎯 Increased accuracy - NLP can help to interpret employee feedback and identify trends accurately.
🤔 Improved decision making - By understanding employee feedback, organisations can make better decisions about their workforce, such as which employees to promote or how to best meet the needs of their employees
⏩ Faster response times - NLP can help speed up the process of analysing employee feedback, meaning that organisations can better understand their workforce more quickly. This can help to improve organisational efficiency.
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising human resources. It has the potential to solve some of HR’s most pressing problems. However, organisations need to be prepared for resistance from staff who are fearful that they will lose their jobs due to automation - especially if these workers have no other skillsets outside of what they currently do in the workplace.
They should also be aware that AI will not replace human intelligence completely, and there are still many tasks it cannot perform. Artificial intelligence can only read structured data, so unstructured feedback from employees may not always be analysed correctly by machines - which means employees will continue to play an important role in providing meaningful insights into the workplace for employers.
For more HR insights, check out our other blog posts.