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Kiljon Shukullari, HR Advisory Manager
(Last updated )
Kiljon Shukullari, HR Advisory Manager
(Last updated )
Artificial Intelligence was created to make life easier for humans. Like every other technological advancement before it, the focus was to make remedial, monotonous tasks more manageable. However, since its inception, many issues have been highlighted by experts about the dangers of AI, especially in professional and educational settings. Artificial intelligence in the workplace can be particularly challenging due to the limitations of machine learning.
There are several implications of misusing AI in the workplace, including in HR practices. HR requires a human element and without it many companies may end up facing unethical claims. In fact, there have been reports of such cases in recent years. Here are a few reasons why relying completely on AI in the workplace is not a good idea.
1. AI is not always accurate - Contrary to popular belief, AI is not immune to mistakes. In fact, there have been several reports of AI providing inaccurate and even fictional information to search prompts. This is known as AI hallucinations. These hallucinations have led to the spread of misinformation which can damage a business’ reputation.
2. AI cannot take accountability – If your employees utilize AI and reproduces incorrect information that leads to legal action, the company would still be liable. “The machine did it,” is unfortunately not an adequate defense.
3. AI can have biases – AI at its core works by taking the data it is fed and makes deductions using patterns. This can be particularly problematic if the data is unfairly unfavourable to certain groups.
4. AI can act unethically - A study in 2022 found that AI could act in unethical ways, even in relation to serving up advertisements. According to the report, a job posting was made inviting qualified applicants in the STEM field to apply. The algorithm favoured male prospects for these STEM ads because the cost of advertising to female applicants was higher.
In an attempt to optimize cost-efficiency and increase return on investment (ROI), the ads were mainly shared to male audiences. Such errors are seen as unethical and could lead to your business being liable for unethical HR claims.
5. Hackers can take advantage of AI – As technology progresses, so do hackers. AI’s ability to write code based on specific prompts gives hackers new angles to perform unscrupulous actions. While this is not a direct action you can control in your business, it helps to have a solid cybersecurity policy to protect against such attacks.
If you choose to utilize AI in your hiring process, it must also involve human oversight to avoid biases. This includes having regular audits of the data the AI tool is being fed to ensure diversity and inclusion in your candidate selection. You should discontinue AI usage at the first sight of any ethical or noncompliant issues.
While AI can be helpful for reducing workload, it is especially important that you don’t leave delicate tasks to a machine’s discretion. If you need help with HR services, we are here to help. Get expert HR assistance including on-site HR support, contracts and documentation, unlimited HR advice all to keep you compliant and avoid costly claims. You can also simplify your HR processes using Peninsula’s smart HR software. Call 1 (833) 247-3652 today to learn more about how our services can benefit your business.
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