In Careful Hands, Generative AI Is an Engine for Business Success

By Trisha Plovie, Senior Vice President, Future of Work, Robert Half

A wave of debate is underway around an AI-powered future, and naturally, everyone in your organization wants to know: Is AI coming for my job?

The answer is yes… and no. While it’s likely some jobs will be phased out, new ones will emerge, and many roles will be reshaped.

Historically, worker displacement resulting from new technologies has been offset by the creation of new jobs and occupations fueled by this same innovation. And because most jobs and industries are only partially exposed to AI, they’re more likely to be complemented, rather than substituted, by it.

For example, accounting jobs have often been singled out for significant disruption due to automation. But Robert Half’s latest Demand for Skilled Talent report shows 98% of companies are currently looking to staff finance and accounting roles, and 95% are having difficulty with that.

As for humans being replaced by AI in workplaces? I’m confident there are human capabilities AI will never replicate. Humans bring the art to problem-solving and communication. And AI can’t perform outside of its programming. That will never change. Which means the soft skills we value now will only grow in importance.

Taking productivity to new heights

I believe the net effect of AI on business will be positive in terms of human potential and productivity. And many professionals are optimistic, as well. According to a Robert Half survey of more than 2,500 workers in the U.S., 41% believe generative AI will have a positive impact on their career, and only 14% worry it could make their skills obsolete.

A new report from McKinsey also shows AI has the potential to advance human productivity by powers of 10. Imagine the work hours saved when AI can handle mundane and repetitive tasks, process and analyze vast amounts of data quickly, optimize resources and streamline workflows. AI can enable predictive maintenance of equipment, highly accurate transcription and translation, and sophisticated conversational tools to enhance customer support.

According to Robert Half's research, workers say the greatest benefits of using generative AI on the job are automating time-consuming tasks (35%) and increasing efficiency and productivity (30%). Note we are talking about automating tasks, not whole careers or professions. The more tasks that can be automated, the more productive

professionals can be. The tractor did not replace farmers after all; it empowered them to raise more and better crops.

Disrupting training and development

Every company benefits from having a well-trained workforce, and AI is already being used to help people work smarter. I expect this technology to be a catalyst for a disruption in professional development.

We’ll soon see widespread use of AI-powered adaptive learning programs that modify training courses — even on the fly— to suit different learning styles. These tools could also analyze which modules have the highest and lowest levels of engagement and could test different variations. AI will help companies predict new skills and roles that will be needed and help measure return on investment from training based on outcomes such as productivity, profitability and turnover.

In our survey of more than 1,000 U.S. workers, employees told us if their jobs were to become automated, 50% would be willing to reskill to stay at their company. Another 16% would look for a job at another company, and 12% said they would look for a different job at the same company. 21% were unsure.

Smart employers already have a training strategy to help employees adapt to the changing workplace. They’re demonstrating how AI can create new opportunities for professional growth rather than impact job security.

I believe one of the most welcome benefits companies will see from AI is how automating repetitive tasks frees up workers at every level to be more strategic and intentional about their work and professional future. You’re building better employees.

Another benefit will be AI’s role as a cost-savings tool. Streamlining business processes is just the beginning. The data processing capabilities will make it easier to catch instances of fraud, protecting customers, revenue and reputation.

There is plenty of optimism about the potential for generative AI, but it’s still in the early days, and there is much room for error. AI is only as good as the data it gleans, and there are potential risks, such as introducing bias into systems and exposing private information.

That’s why it’s essential for organizations to have firm and understood guidelines on how employees are to use and not use generative AI for work. Organizations should regularly assess the impact of AI on employees and address any negative consequences promptly. And it’s important for leaders to actively seek feedback from employees and make adjustments to AI systems and processes as necessary.

As business leaders, we have the opportunity to integrate AI into our workplaces the right way. And part of that involves addressing employees’ concerns and helping them see the potential advantages, and then providing the training to leverage generative AI effectively.

Next time: Introducing AI to Your Workstream? Put Employees at Ease and In Control