Latest / Dr. Derek H. Suite MD - The SuiteSpot / Is HR on the verge of being replaced by AI?

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Is HR on the verge of being replaced by AI? · Dr. Derek H. Suite MD - The SuiteSpot

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Welcome to our deep dive, and today we're exploring how AI is impacting the world of human resources.
• 0:07
  Speaker 2: Oh, this is fascinating stuff.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Yeah, it really is, and you know, our main source today is this article by Dr Derek Sweet.
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Okay, he's a psychiatrist and he talks about working with this HR executive named Jenny, who is, like, seriously struggling with AI anxiety.
• 0:22
  Speaker 2: I can see why that would be a big concern these days.
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, it's not just some you know sci-fi fantasy anymore.
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: Ai is like really changing the game in so many fields.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: Right, and HR is right at the forefront of that.
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: Exactly, and this deep dive is going beyond.
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: You know just the headlines about robots taking jobs.
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: Yeah, we're going to dig into, like, the human side of it.
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: You know how is this impacting people like Jenny on a personal and emotional level?
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: That's what I find so interesting about Dr Sweet's approach he uses this personal story to explore this really complex topic and it makes it so much more relatable, you know.
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: Absolutely, and Jenny's anxieties are not unique.
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: I mean, dr Sweet even mentions that, like even though the actual number of HR leaders who are, you know, losing their jobs to AI is still pretty small.
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: OK.
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: The fear is definitely spreading among HR professionals.
• 1:12
  Speaker 2: Well, yeah, I mean, when you hear these predictions from like Goldman Sachs saying that AI could potentially replace, was it like 300 million jobs?
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: Yeah, something like that.
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: It's hard not to feel a little uneasy.
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: For sure.
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: And then you have IBM saying that AI could impact a third of their own workforce.
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: I mean, these are huge companies.
• 1:28
  Speaker 2: Absolutely so.
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: It's understandable that people like Jenny are feeling the pressure.
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: So let's talk about Jenny.
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: She's a high level HR executive.
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: She's successful, she seems to have it all, but she's got this growing fear that AI is coming for her job.
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: I can relate to that feeling.
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: Right.
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: She even describes this like surreal experience of watching AI recruitment software just blaze through tasks that would take her team weeks to finish.
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: And to make matters worse, her bosses are like, constantly praising the AI you know, highlighting how fast and efficient it is.
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: It's almost as if they're treating the AI like a star employee.
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: Ouch, it's got to sting a little I know it's like they're praising the AI right in front of her while she's worried about becoming obsolete.
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: It's like watching your replacement get all the accolades.
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: Exactly, and it's not just her.
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: We've seen this kind of disruption before in other fields, like think about customer service reps.
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: Oh yeah.
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: Or toll booth operators.
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: Right.
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: Those jobs have been largely automated and it makes you wonder, like who's next?
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: That's the million dollar question, right.
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: Have you seen similar shifts in your own work?
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: Definitely, Especially in data analysis and research.
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: But what strikes me about Jenny's story is how she starts connecting the dots.
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: You know she's seeing this pattern of technology replacing certain types of jobs and it's fueling her anxiety.
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: That's like history repeating itself.
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: Right.
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: So she's got these historical precedents in mind and then she's hearing these predictions about massive job displacement.
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: I mean, it sounds like a recipe for a panic attack.
• 3:03
  Speaker 2: It definitely could be, but here's where it gets interesting.
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: Dr Sweet argues that the situation with AI and HR it's not as simple as robots taking over.
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: OK, so there's more to the story than just this fear of being replaced.
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: Tell me more about this nuanced perspective.
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: What are we missing?
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: Well, for starters, the name human resources kind of says it all, doesn't it?
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: This field is about people, their skills, their well-being, their relationships with each other.
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: That's a good point.
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: And those are all things that AI, at least in its current form, still struggles with.
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: I see what you mean.
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: Even with all the hype around AI, we can't forget that there are some things that humans are just uniquely good at.
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: So let's break this down a bit.
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: What are some of the things that AI, even with all its processing power, just can't quite grasp when it comes to the human element?
• 3:52
  Speaker 2: One of the biggest ones is human judgment, like emotional intelligence and ethical decision making.
• 3:57
  Speaker 2: These are things that you need to navigate the complexities of a workplace.
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: Right, like you can't program empathy or intuition into an algorithm.
• 4:05
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: Think about situations that require conflict resolution, or building trust with your team or, just you know, providing a listening ear to someone who's having a tough time.
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: You need that human touch.
• 4:17
  Speaker 2: Exactly and in my experience, sometimes data can only tell you so much.
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: You need that gut feeling.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: You need that understanding of human nature to make the right call.
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: Absolutely so.
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: We've talked about soft skills, but what about like complex situations?
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: Can AI handle those?
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: That's another area where AI has limitations, especially in what Dr Sweet calls VUCA environments.
• 4:38
  Speaker 1: VUCA.
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: It stands for volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous.
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: Oh wow, basically, these are the gray areas of work where you need human experience, adaptability on the spot thinking.
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: I mean, there's so many situations where just going by the data wouldn't have cut it.
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 4:54
  Speaker 1: You need that human flexibility to adjust to the unexpected.
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: Right, and that's something that's really hard to program into a machine.
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: So it sounds like Jenny's anxieties, while understandable, might be coming from a kind of limited view of what AI can actually do.
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's fair to say.
• 5:08
  Speaker 2: It's not this all powerful force that's going to take over every aspect of HR.
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: And that's where we see a turning point in Jenny's story.
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: Oh, tell me more.
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: Dr Sweet helps her reframe her thinking.
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: You know, he encourages her to see AI not as this enemy but as a potential partner.
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: Interesting, so she goes from fearing AI to befriending it.
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: Exactly, but how does that shift actually happen?
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: What are some of the things that help Jenny embrace AI instead of running from it?
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: Well, one of the biggest realizations is that AI can actually free up HR professionals to focus on more strategic and complex tasks, the things that require those human skills we were just talking about.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: Precisely.
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: It's like imagine if AI could handle all the routine administrative stuff, you know data entry, scheduling, basic policy questions.
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: Oh, that would be amazing.
• 5:54
  Speaker 1: Think of all the time and energy that would free up.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: Right.
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: It would allow HR professionals like Jenny to dedicate more of their time to things like building relationships, developing talent, resolving conflicts you know shaping company culture and driving those strategic initiatives.
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: So it's not just about efficiency.
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: It's about allowing humans to focus on the things that we're truly good at.
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: And the things that bring us more satisfaction.
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: It sounds like AI could actually help make HR more human, which is a bit ironic when you think about it.
• 6:24
  Speaker 2: It is a bit ironic, isn't it?
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: But Dr Sweet emphasizes that it's not just about shifting tasks.
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: It's about developing a whole new skill set that he calls AI literacy.
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: AI literacy.
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: That sounds intriguing, but also a little intimidating.
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: What does that even mean?
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: Does it mean like learning to code or becoming a data scientist?
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: No, not at all.
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: It's much more accessible than that.
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: It's about understanding the basic principles of AI, what it can and can't do, and how it might impact your specific field.
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: So being able to have informed conversations about AI, ask the right questions, recognize both the potential and the limitations.
• 6:59
  Speaker 2: Exactly, it's more about being AI aware than becoming an AI expert.
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: That makes sense, and it seems like a lot of HR professionals haven't quite caught on to this idea of AI literacy yet.
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: Yeah, dr Sweet mentions that nearly half of HR professionals haven't integrated AI into their work at all, which I found surprising.
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: Wow, that's a big number.
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: It makes you wonder if that lack of familiarity is part of what's driving the fear.
• 7:22
  Speaker 2: It's definitely possible.
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: You know it's natural to be wary of something you don't understand.
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: So knowledge is power in a way.
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: The more we understand about AI, the less we have to fear it.
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: Absolutely, and Jenny's story is a perfect example of how that shift in mindset can lead to really positive outcomes.
• 7:38
  Speaker 1: Okay, so how does Jenny's story unfold from here?
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: Does she manage to overcome her AI anxiety and actually thrive in this new world of you know, human-machine collaboration?
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: Let's just say that Jenny and Arthur AI, as she nicknamed her AI companion they developed quite a partnership.
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: Okay, I'm definitely curious to hear more about this budding friendship between Jenny and Arthur AI, but we'll have to save those details for part two.
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: So before the break, we were talking about Jenny and her AI partner, Arthur AI.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: Yeah, and it's not just about her overcoming her fear.
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: She actually starts to see AI as a tool to help her achieve goals, you know, goals that she couldn't have reached on her own.
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: That's a pretty big shift.
• 8:17
  Speaker 1: Does the article give any specific examples of what they worked on together?
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: One of the most interesting ones is this mental resilience program they created for the company's employees.
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: Mental resilience.
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: That's a hot topic these days.
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: Was that something Jenny was already working on, or was it like a new initiative?
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: Well, Dr Sweet mentions that Jenny had been wanting to do something like this for a while.
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: Okay, but she kept running into these roadblocks.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: With you know, data collection and analysis.
• 8:45
  Speaker 1: I can imagine.
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: It was just way too time consuming to gather all the information they needed from employee surveys, performance reviews and all that.
• 8:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah that stuff can be a real headache, but with Arthur AI's help she could suddenly process and analyze huge amounts of data like really quickly.
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: Wow.
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: So Arthur AI was doing more than just automating tasks.
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: It was actually helping Jenny find insights that she would have missed otherwise.
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: Exactly, it's like AI was giving her a superpower.
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: You know it was amplifying her own expertise.
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: It's a great example of how AI can complement human skills.
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: So tell me more about this program.
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: What were some of the specifics?
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: The article doesn't go into a ton of detail, but it does mention that the program was designed to address some of the most common stressors employees face, you know.
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: Like burnout and work-life balance.
• 9:33
  Speaker 2: Exactly, and that feeling of always needing to be connected.
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: It's like the always on culture we live in.
• 9:39
  Speaker 2: Right, and what's really fascinating is that this program wouldn't have been possible without AI at least not on the same scale.
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: Right.
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: It just wouldn't have been feasible to do that level of analysis without AI.
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: So, in a way, ai is being used to improve employee well-being.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: Yeah, it's kind of flipping the script on that whole idea of AI being this cold, impersonal force.
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: Right.
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: In this case, it's actually helping to create a more human-centered workplace.
• 10:03
  Speaker 2: And it really highlights the role of leadership.
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: You know, if Jenny's bosses hadn't been open to using AI in the first place, or if they hadn't supported her in learning how to use these new tools, things might have turned out very differently.
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: That's such a good point.
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: It's not just about the technology itself.
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: It's about having leaders who are willing to embrace change and invest in their people.
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: And who trust their employees to adapt and learn.
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: So Jenny's company seems to be doing a great job of fostering this kind of human-AI collaboration, but is this just a one-off success story, or could this be a glimpse into the future of HR?
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: It's hard to say for sure, because every company is different and the way they use AI is going to vary depending on their needs, you know Right.
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: But I do think Jenny's story offers some valuable lessons for HR professionals.
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: Okay, like what.
• 10:52
  Speaker 2: Well, first off, ai is not the enemy, okay.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: It's about learning how to work with it, instead of seeing it as this threat.
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: So it's about collaboration, not competition.
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: Exactly, and even more importantly, it's about remembering the human in human resources, because even in a world where AI plays a bigger role, those essential human skills like empathy, judgment, creativity, the ability to connect with others, those skills are going to become even more valuable.
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: It's like the more we rely on technology, the more important those human qualities become.
• 11:20
  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
• 11:21
  Speaker 2: And that brings us to another really crucial point, which is adaptability.
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: Okay.
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: The world of work is changing so rapidly, and AI is just one of the many factors driving that change.
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: So we can't just learn about AI and then call it a day.
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: We need to be constantly learning and adapting.
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: Right and adaptability is not just about you know, learning new software or something.
• 11:42
  Speaker 2: It's about being open to new ideas, being willing to get out of your comfort zone and being OK with things being a little messy sometimes.
• 11:50
  Speaker 1: It's about having that growth mindset.
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: Exactly Seeing change as an opportunity to learn and evolve.
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: That's something we can all work on, no matter what our job is.
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: And before we move on, I think it's important to remember the value of networking and building relationships.
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: Okay, but how does that relate to AI and the future of work?
• 12:08
  Speaker 2: Well as the workplace changes, it's more important than ever to have a strong network of colleagues and mentors and peers, you know, people who can offer support and advice and new perspectives.
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: So it's about building a community.
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: Exactly A community of people who can help us navigate this new world together.
• 12:25
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: This has been a fascinating deep dive.
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: We've talked about the anxieties and the possibilities and all the different ways that AI is changing the game in HR.
• 12:32
  Speaker 1: But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, I think we should take a step back and talk about some practical steps that our listeners can take right now.
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: Yeah, good idea.
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: We'll explore those in part three, so stay with us.
• 12:44
  Speaker 1: All right, so we're back and ready to get practical.
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: What can our listeners actually do like right now to prepare for this future of work where AI is, you know, becoming more and more important?
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: Well, we've talked a lot about AI literacy, and I think that's really the key.
• 12:59
  Speaker 2: It's about shifting from, you know, this mindset of fear to one of proactive preparation.
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: Okay, but AI literacy can sound kind of vague.
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: What are some concrete steps people can take?
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: I mean, not everyone needs to go back to school for computer science right?
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: No, definitely not.
• 13:15
  Speaker 2: There are so many ways to learn about AI without you know, becoming a tech expert.
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: Okay good and a lot of them are actually really accessible, like there are tons of free online courses, oh cool Articles, podcasts even, that explain AI concepts in plain language.
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: So just by being curious and doing a little research online.
• 13:33
  Speaker 2: Exactly.
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: You can learn a lot.
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: What about?
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: books have you read anything good lately?
• 13:40
  Speaker 2: I've heard good things about the second machine age.
• 13:41
  Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that's a classic.
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: It gives a really great overview of how AI is impacting the economy and what it means for workers.
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: So we can start by educating ourselves.
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: But what about specific skills?
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: Are there certain skills that will be more valuable in an AI driven workplace?
• 13:57
  Speaker 2: Well, think about what we've been discussing this whole time.
• 13:59
  Speaker 2: You know those uniquely human skills.
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: Like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity.
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: Exactly, emotional intelligence, communication, collaboration these are all things that AI, at least for now, can't really replicate.
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: It's funny how, the more we rely on machines, the more important those human skills become.
• 14:16
  Speaker 2: It really is.
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: It's not about being replaced by AI, it's about figuring out how to work alongside it.
• 14:21
  Speaker 2: You know, leverage our strengths.
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: So it's about becoming more human, even as we're working with machines more and more.
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: I like that, and it brings us back to that idea of adaptability.
• 14:32
  Speaker 2: The world of work is always changing and we need to be ready to roll with it.
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: Yeah, but that can be scary for people, especially if they've been doing the same job for a long time.
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: I get that change can be uncomfortable, but it's also a chance to grow and learn.
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: You might even discover some hidden talents.
• 14:47
  Speaker 1: It's all about having that growth mindset right, Seeing challenges as opportunities.
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: Exactly, and remembering that learning is a lifelong process.
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: Absolutely.
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: And before we wrap up, I just wanted to add one more thing.
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: Yeah, what's that?
• 15:00
  Speaker 1: Don't underestimate the power of networking and building relationships.
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: Oh, that's so important, especially now, you know, as the workplace keeps changing Exactly.
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: Having a strong network of colleagues, mentors, peers.
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: People who can offer support, advice, new perspectives.
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: It's like having a safety net.
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: It is.
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: It's about building a community that can help us navigate this new world together.
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: Couldn't have said it better myself.
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: Well, this has been a fascinating deep dive into the world of AI and HR.
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: We've explored the anxieties, the opportunities and some practical steps you can take to prepare for the future.
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: And I think the biggest takeaway is that we don't have to fear AI.
• 15:41
  Speaker 2: We can choose to see it as a tool, a tool that can help us create a more meaningful and fulfilling work experience for everyone.
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: It's not about being replaced by machines.
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: It's about finding ways to work together to build a better future for ourselves and our organizations.
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: That's a great note to end on.
• 15:56
  Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.