Future-Proofing Your Career: The Relevance of HR in an AI-Driven World

Before diving into this top trending topic, let’s grasp what exactly is AI? 

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. AI is a simulation of human intelligence, it’s like teaching computers to think and act like humans. This means they can do things like understand language, recognize speech, and even see and understand images. Think of it as giving machines the ability to learn and make decisions on their own, just like we do. Few examples are: chatbots, navigation, chatGpt. Facial recognition technology and virtual assistants like Siri & Alexa.

In the 2020s, interest and investment in artificial intelligence (AI) skyrocketed because scientists found new ways to learn from data. With powerful computers and lots of information, AI became incredibly good at solving all sorts of problems, from diagnosing diseases to driving cars. The amazing possibilities of AI caught the attention of many people and businesses, leading to a lot of money being put into it. This pushed forward big improvements and ways AI could be used in different areas. 

The question that arises is, whether it is worth studying HR given job cuts due to AI?

Studying HR remains crucial even with the rise of AI. HR involves more than just data and automation—it’s about understanding people, guiding organizational strategy, ensuring fairness, and fostering employee well-being. While AI can assist in various HR tasks, it lacks the human touch and nuanced understanding that HR professionals bring. Thus, investing in HR education remains vital for navigating the complexities of managing people and organizations effectively in the AI-driven world.

So, now the question arises, will AI eliminate HR jobs? 

AI has the capabilities to eliminate jobs but the positive side is that not every job can be entirely eliminated, in which HR takes the lead role. 

While AI has made significant advancements in automating various tasks within HR functions, there are still key differences between what AI can’t do and what HR professionals contribute to an organization:

• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: HR professionals understand and address employees’ emotional needs during difficult situations.
• Personalized Employee Development: HR professionals create tailored development plans and provide coaching to help employees grow professionally.
• Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: HR professionals mediate conflicts and negotiate resolutions between employees and management.
• Complex Decision Making: They make nuanced decisions regarding talent management, performance evaluation, and organizational development.
• Cultural Understanding and Alignment: They shape organizational culture, promote diversity, and facilitate cultural integration.
• Building Relationships and Trust: HR professionals foster positive relationships and a sense of community within the organization.
• Ethical and Moral Judgment: They ensure compliance with ethical standards, labor laws, and prevent discrimination.

To ensure that AI doesn’t take away jobs in HR is to accept and adapt to the cutting edge technological changes. HR professionals need to understand how these technologies impact Workforce Management, Recruitment, Training, and Performance Evaluation. Collaboration with AI is the best way to get rid of this fear. 

We need to understand how we can collaborate with AI to accomplish tasks more effectively and efficiently. Humans and AI systems working together, each bringing their own strengths to the table, to achieve organization’s goal.  

What exactly does it mean?

Let’s take the example of Recruitment. Imagine an organisation needs to hire a new employee for a position. In the past, HR professionals would spend a lot of time going through resumes, trying to find the best candidates. But now, with AI, things have changed. AI-powered software can quickly analyze thousands of resumes, looking for specific skills and qualifications that match the job requirements with keywords. This helps HR professionals narrow down the candidate pool much faster and focus on the most potential applicants. Additionally, AI can help schedule interviews, answer candidates’ questions, and even predict which candidates are most likely to succeed in the role based on data analysis. So, by working together with AI, HR professionals can find and hire the right people more efficiently, saving time and resources for the company.  

 Let’s simplify it:

• Finding the Right People: AI helps HR teams quickly pick out the best candidates for a job from a big pile of resumes. It’s like having a super-fast helper that finds needles in a haystack. 
• Planning Ahead: AI helps HR teams figure out how many people the company will need in the future and what skills they’ll need. It’s like having a crystal ball that helps you plan for what’s coming next.
• Applying for Jobs Easier: AI-powered chatbots chat with people who are applying for jobs, answering their questions and helping them schedule interviews. It’s like having a helpful assistant available 24/7 to guide you through the application process.
• Helping New Hires Settle In: AI guides new employees through their training and helps them learn about the company’s rules and procedures. It’s like having a friendly guide showing you around on your first day at a new school.
• Listening to What Employees Have to Say: AI understands how employees feel about their jobs by analysing the surveys and reviews, helping HR teams make things better. It’s like having a suggestion box that automatically sorts through all the notes to find the most important ones.
• Making Sure Everyone Is Treated Fairly: AI helps HR teams make sure everyone has a fair shot at getting hired or promoted. It’s like having a referee in a game who makes sure everyone follows the rules and plays fair.

By teaming up with AI, HR folks can do their jobs better and make sure everyone at the company is happy and treated fairly.