The emergence of AI solutions, such as ChatGPT, are beginning to raise important questions about how it will impact businesses and the workforces that rely on them. In a recent Goldman Sachs report, it was projected that up to eighteen percent of jobs, amounting to 300 million, could be automated through AI solutions. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to result in mass layoffs and job displacement. Instead, the correct implementation of AI can help free workers from mundane jobs, adding meaning to their workloads. Companies like Centric Consulting have provided clients assistance with implementing robotic process automation (RPA) solutions to become more efficient without necessarily having to reduce headcount.
World Wide Technology is a great example of how an implementation of RPA could benefit an organization. Implementing RPA in the procurement process, WWT was able to onboard vendors faster and gain visibility of their supplies; productivity was also improved. The use of RPA proved beneficial to the overall workflow — it connected data from disparate systems smoothly, negating the need for costly development projects, and it gave employees more meaningful work and increased their engagement.
For successful implementation of AI, it is important to focus on change management. Leaders should communicate their vision of how the tech will be used and how it will contribute to the organization, so that employees don’t feel like they’re being replaced by the technology. To reduce anxiety and resistance, provide assurance that the AI solutions will not necessarily reduce headcount but bring more growth to the organization and contentment to employees.
An important point to note is that, while AI solutions can eliminate tedious tasks, they are no replacement for creative thought and intuitive understanding — something that still requires human input. ChatGPT has been criticized for producing inaccurate and biased content, which could be down to the fact it has not yet been fully customized to fit certain companies’ needs. Setting aside time to understand employees and their tasks, as well as conveying appreciation and value, is key.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, is a proponent of using AI as a ‘copilot’ — technology to help with mundane tasks and provide more freedom and insight for employees for strategically more productive work. AI can be “the joy of creation”. The right implementation of AI is key to have a successful transition into this new wave of technology, and harnessing the creative and intuitive aspects of human creativity is essential in order to thrive in the industry.
