Will AI Replace HR? Insights from Business Leaders

The AI Conversation in HR

As is the case for many professions, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resources is causing some to fear that their role will eventually become obsolete. Tasks like resume screening, interview scheduling, and even basic performance reviews could be automated, potentially making HR professionals unnecessary.

There's also concern about bias. If AI algorithms are trained on biased data, they could discriminate in hiring, promotion, or compensation decisions. Additionally, AI can't replace the human touch that's so important in HR, as empathy, understanding, and relationship building are crucial for effective HR – which a language learning model (LLM) struggles to replicate.

However, AI has also shown that it can automate repetitive, tedious administrative tasks that bog down HR professionals – giving them time back to work on more strategic initiatives, such as employee engagement and performance.

So, what do HR and business leaders think about implementing AI into their HR departments, and what drawbacks are they concerned about?

Benefits of AI in HR

1. AI for Emails and Job Applications

"Yes, we want our HR team to use AI like ChatGPT. It's really helpful. AI can write emails to people who want to work with us. It saves our team time and keeps our replies quick and professional.

Also, AI is great for sorting job applications. It finds the best people for the job in no time. This makes the work easier for our HR staff. We always make sure our team knows how to use this AI technology the right way."

Martin Potocki, CEO, Jobera

2. Improving HR Efficiency with AI

"As a business leader, I always encourage my HR departments to use generative AI technology. It enhances their performance and reduces their workload or responsibilities. 

Our company has numerous workers. It's tedious and time-consuming to analyze the performance of each worker. Then, sorting out all the results is also challenging. Despite giving their best, there is always the risk of errors. After the identification of blunders, HRs have to start their whole process. It results in the delayed processing of payments, bonuses, and promotions. 

After adopting AI, everything has become smoother. AI analyzes all the performance data by considering many criteria. Some are project involvement, completed tasks, and efficiency rate. It brings quick and fair results."

Ilan Nass, Chief Revenue Officer, Taktical

3. Streamline HR with AI Technology

"In my role as the CEO of Authors On Mission, I strongly encourage our HR department to utilize generative AI technologies like ChatGPT. The use of AI greatly streamlines processes, allowing our HR staff to focus more on people-centered tasks. 

ChatGPT assists us in automating routine communication, answering FAQs, and even aiding in employee onboarding by providing necessary information to new team members. This technology not only speeds up operations but also ensures accuracy and consistency in responses. It speeds up all the processes and helps us gather information immediately, answering it exactly the way we want. 

The integration of AI in HR is a strategic move, driving efficiency and allowing our human resources to excel in roles where human touch and empathy are paramount."

Vikrant Shaurya, CEO, Authors On Mission

4. Boost HR Efficiency with AI Tools

"Yes, AI tools are highly encouraged in our HR processes. In fact, we consider ourselves early adopters. We're fond of trying out new and promising tools that could lighten the load for us—AI very much included.

As a digital startup with a limited workforce to spare, generative AI tools are game-changing for our operations. They can help our HR personnel work faster and more efficiently, which will also fast-track movement within our organization. 

For example, because AI tools help take care of employee attendance and PTO tracking, this frees up a significant amount of time for our HR to instead work on employee engagement and retention efforts."

Khris Steven, Owner and Marketer, KhrisDigital

5. Apply ChatGPT in HR Processes

"ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that helps to automate routine HR tasks, such as providing employees with policy and procedure information. It can also provide answers to common questions in a conversational manner, eliminating the need for HR staff to answer every query. By implementing ChatGPT into your organization's workflow, you can save time and resources, allowing your HR staff to focus on more complex tasks.

Business leaders should consider taking advantage of this innovative technology in order to streamline their HR processes and improve employee experience. Here are a few ways that ChatGPT can be used:

• Automate onboarding processes by providing new hires with policy and procedure information.

• Create interactive quizzes or surveys to gauge employee satisfaction.

• Answer common questions regarding benefits, pay, or job duties quickly and accurately.

• Provide personalized feedback about performance and career development opportunities."

Matt Teifke, CEO, Teifke Real Estate

Specific Applications of AI in HR

Beyond automating repetitive tasks, AI can also be utilized more strategically to identify trends in areas such as employee engagement, hiring, inclusion, and social media. Here are some insights on how else AI can be utilized to enhance the employee experience.

6. AI for Inclusive Workplace Culture

"Employing ChatGPT for diversity and inclusion initiatives can help identify potential biases and provide solutions to promote a more inclusive workplace culture. For example, ChatGPT can analyze job postings to detect language that may be exclusionary. 

Additionally, it can assist with identifying and addressing microaggressions in employee communications. This approach shows a commitment to creating an equitable and welcoming environment for all employees and can have a positive impact on overall employee satisfaction and retention."

Roy Lau, Co-founder, 28 Mortgage

7. Integrate ChatGPT with Social Media

"Integrating ChatGPT with HR's social media channels can improve employee satisfaction and engagement. This approach would allow HR to handle employee inquiries and concerns in real-time, reaching out to younger and more tech-savvy employees who prefer social media platforms as their primary mode of communication. 

For example, integrating ChatGPT with HR's Twitter account would enable employees to tweet their queries and receive immediate and accurate responses from ChatGPT. This would make the employee experience smoother and enhance their perception of HR's responsiveness to their concerns."

Ben Lau, Founder, Featured SEO Company

Concerns About AI in HR

Not everyone thinks the AI wave will be without drawbacks. Concerns over data privacy, security, bias, and ethics are just some of the reasons that leaders are cautious about jumping head-first into fully utilizing AI tools.

8. Preferring Human Expertise in HR

"No, we are not encouraging our HR department to use hands-on AI tools. We believe humans are perfect when it comes to HR-related tasks. 

It's not always best to conduct analysis on a computer. Programming mistakes could result in inaccurate data interpretation. This can affect candidate sorting criteria. I would say you only need to keep in mind the areas that will enable you to benefit from its advantages while keeping an eye on the risks. 

Create and employ AI systems with equity and empathy in mind, and it's important to take the necessary security safeguards."

Ryan Faber, Founder and CEO, Copymatic

9. Benefits and Challenges of AI in HR

"HR departments are in a unique position to benefit from the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, such as ChatGPT. By leveraging the power of AI-driven automation, HR teams can reduce time spent on tedious administrative tasks while simultaneously improving accuracy and efficiency. 

Furthermore, AI can be used to automate processes related to candidate screening and employee onboarding. At the same time, HR departments must be mindful of potential challenges that may come with using generative AI technology. 

Some common concerns include data privacy and security, compliance with applicable laws, and ethical considerations such as bias in decision-making."

Ryan Hetrick, CEO, Epiphany Wellness

10. Consider AI Implications and Limitations

"As a CEO, the decision to encourage HR departments to use ChatGPT and other generative AI technology would depend on the specific needs and goals of the organization. While generative AI technology can offer benefits such as automating repetitive tasks, improving efficiency, and enhancing the candidate experience, it is essential to consider the potential implications and limitations.

If I decide to encourage the use of generative AI technology in HR departments, I would prioritize several steps. First, I would conduct a thorough assessment of the organization's HR processes and identify areas where AI technology could be beneficial. This would involve considering the types of tasks that can be automated or streamlined, such as resume screening, candidate pre-screening, or employee onboarding.

Next, I would ensure that the HR team receives proper training and support in utilizing AI technology effectively."

Sai Blackbyrn, CEO, Coach Foundation

Responsible Use of AI in HR

11. Balancing AI and Human Judgment

"As a tech company CEO, we actively encourage our HR departments to leverage ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies. We utilize ChatGPT to automate certain tasks, such as generating standardized responses for frequently asked questions, enhancing the efficiency of our HR teams. Furthermore, we integrate ChatGPT in candidate screening processes to assist in shortlisting qualified applicants.

However, it's important to note that while AI technology provides valuable support, human expertise and judgment remain critical for decision-making. We prioritize maintaining a balance between automation and human oversight to ensure that our HR strategies align with organizational values and legal compliance."

Luciano Colos, Founder and CEO, PitchGrade

12. Responsible ChatGPT Usage

"I'm all for HR using ChatGPT, but it has to be done right. We have drawn a clear line between responsible and irresponsible usage. For example, AI-generated vacancies that offer twice bigger salaries are a big threat. 

However, I will be only glad if they start looking for logical gaps in their writing, improve their emails, or create unique test tasks for each candidate using ChatGPT. So, we keep a sharp eye on it to avoid any more slip-ups."

David Kemmerer, Co-founder and CEO, CoinLedger

So...Will AI Replace HR?

Overall, AI is likely to be a valuable tool for HR professionals, but it is not a replacement for human expertise. The future of HR is likely to involve a collaboration between humans and AI.

As AI technology continues to evolve rapidly, HR and business leaders should carefully consider how it can benefit their processes and organization as a whole. By using AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, such as GoCo's AI Knowledge Base, HR teams can gain back the time needed to focus on more complex matters. However, leaders should be fully aware of the limitations and implications that come with using this technology for more complicated matters.

Updated 6/12/2024