There has been a lot of scaremongering in the media about the effects that AI integration will have on the workplace – the most notable statistic being that, according to a report from Goldman Sachs, 300-million jobs are predicted to be lost in American and European markets,.

However, delving deeper into the report reveals that just 7% of current US employment are predicted to be fully substituted by AI, with 30% unaffected, and 68% ‘complemented’ by its introduction.

Historically, workplace automation has often led to the creation of new roles or technology becoming ‘co-workers’ with us. For instance, the introduction of ATMs in the US in the late 1960s aimed to replace bank tellers and reduce branch space. Contrary to expectations, as ATMs proliferated, so did bank branches and tellers. The success of this relationship hinged on employees understanding how to leverage this technology to enhance efficiency and customer service.

As organizations introduce AI into the workplace, HR will play a pivotal role supporting these new co-worker relationships. As Melissa Swift describes in her book Work Here Now, HR will be ‘couples counsellors’ for humans and technology, coaching employees on how to successfully interact with newly integrated tech in order to optimize its (and their) abilities.

With AI potentially disrupting organizational structures, workflows, and processes, HR will ensure these changes maintain employee morale and productivity and secure future talent pipelines by enhancing company reputations. By being a pillar in this new coexistence, HR professionals will show how AI tools can help employees excel by promoting new behaviors, correcting habits, enhancing skills, and freeing up time for meaningful work by handling administrative tasks.

As we continue to watch AI integration in the workplace take shape, it is important for HR to get ahead of this curve and be proactive when it comes to managing the impacts of this new technological age. If you would like to discuss how OrgShakers can help you do this, please get in touch with me at david@orgshakers.com