A study (KPMG 2019) found that virtually all HR functions can be fully or partially automated. Of 21 responsibilities, the report shows only 5 to be relatively less susceptible to automation - People performance systems architecture,HR and business strategy, Organizational effectiveness, Change management, Employee relations…
The understanding and use of the power of automation may prove to be the dividing line between those professionals who advance in the field of Human Resources and those who are marginalized and, eventually, automated out of their jobs!
Time is now for HR (and not only IT, or Finance or Operations) to be given and to embrace one of its most vital strategic tasks, namely to prepare the organisations for the AI revolution! This will mean a long list of things, and here are 5 of them:
- Ensuring that the workforce is change-ready and prepared to embrace new technology.
- Giving the 40 year-old learning organisation concept a boost, as the requirements to create a community of open minds become an urgency.
- Transforming the way talent management is executed, to align with the demands of an AI-driven landscape.
- Being at the forefront of handling the consequences of organisational reskilling, guiding employees through career transitions and ensuring their continued relevance in the face of automation.
- Providing insights on what sort of relationship there might be between humans and AI, i.e. how best to exploit highly-intelligent machines but in ways that benefit, rather than hinder, human progress.
But, prior to all those "work related things", HR must be the guardian of Stephen Hawking's wishes -“Our future is a race between the growing power of our technology and the wisdom with which we use it. Let’s make sure that wisdom wins!!!”
