By Kathy Gurchiek
Generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, was all the buzz in 2023 as employers and workers tried to figure out how the new technology could help them better perform their jobs. What does AI have in store for workplaces and HR? Experts offered the following AI predictions for 2024.
“AI is going to revolutionize HR. It will be introduced faster into HR than ever previously thought, and we will soon all be using it to ease the hiring process and automate regular HR tasks. These automated functions may even force HR employees to redefine their work.
HR will also continue to go more commercial and work with leaders to help drive the change that needs to be driven. Top HR executives will be more involved in company strategy than ever before.”
—Teri Ellison, CHRO for SHL, a talent management services provider headquartered in Thames Ditton, Surrey, U.K.
“Given the rapid evolution of generative and predictive AI, employers will start to have a more-dedicated AI pillar and AI strategies that they might not have had before, particularly in relation to HR. … We’ll start to see the need for AI prowess filter its way into more HR job postings and job descriptions; 2024 will be the year for HR professionals to get with it on the AI front.”
—Petrina Thompson, head of HR a Brightside, a private fintech company in Chandler, Ariz.
“Whether it’s crafting more-thoughtful performance reviews or identifying internal growth opportunities for their direct reports, AI will provide much needed support on tasks where managers are either inexperienced or too burnt out to handle. These AI capabilities will help them become stronger managers, in turn allowing them to better empower their direct reports.”
—Somen Mondal, general manager, talent intelligence, at Ceridian, a global human capital management company headquartered in Minneapolis
” ‘Can I just talk to a person?’ The proliferation of generative AI will make it easier to access information and increase productivity for some workers in the long-term, but [it] will also increase the premium on human peer-to-peer interaction.”
—Glassdoor’s 2024 Workplace Trends report
“More leaders will address AI-era disruptions, focusing on ethical practices [and] prioritizing team and client well-being.”
—Alicia Hullinger, executive director and vice president, International Coaching Federation’s Thought Leadership Institute, Lexington, Ky.
“In 2024, we can expect unprecedented integration of artificial intelligence in the workforce. For most workers, AI will become a side-by-side co-worker. While this may feel threatening, it presents opportunities. The core skills for success—growth mindset, positivity, self-awareness, and sound judgment—will be as critical as ever when interacting with AI. … The soft skills we use with human co-workers will prove even more vital when leveraging this new technology.”
—Ned Rhinelander, chief technology officer, Boston-based meQuilibrium
“The future of AI in HR will be focused on skills-based resourcing instead of role-based resourcing. As companies identify the gaps inside their business, they are becoming more challenged in determining the skill sets they need and less prescriptive about what the actual job title is. But companies don’t have the internal capabilities to do the data analysis, to say, ‘This person with this resume meets the skill criteria we need.’
“As the data gets more complex, we’re seeing people lean more towards AI and trust AI because they can’t sift through the data on their own. The trust in AI is the significant change moving forward. The data and the knowledge gap is so high that many companies are willing to trust AI to make decisions. In turn, employees want their preferences taken into account and are more trusting that an AI-powered mobile app or system can do that better than a human.”
—Dominic Esposito, co-founder and chief technology officer of Jitjatjo, an on-demand services company headquartered in New York City
“In 2024, we anticipate a more pronounced shift towards AI assuming greater responsibilities in managerial and HR functions, such as career coaching. Obviously, generative AI tools like ChatGPT will significantly streamline cross-functional tasks, including mundane activities like copywriting. I also envision a 2024 where leaders seek AI assistance in navigating workplace situations and addressing challenges, and then actively implement the advice received.”
—Josh Merrill, CEO and co-founder of Confirm, a performance-review platform based in the San Francisco Bay area
