Generative AI: Threats and Opportunities for Human Sustainability

By Serena H. Huang, Ph.D.

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After ChatGPT took over the world by a storm, generative AI has continued to make headlines in recent months. With the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives, generative AI also poses a number of threats and challenges to human sustainability.

Human sustainability is not a new concept, though it has been gaining more attention in recent years. In “Burning up and burning out. Human Sustainability in a Time of Emotional Climate Change”, Bahia El Oddi and Carin-Isabel Knoop at Harvard Business School argue that the economic and social toll of mental health and wellbeing issues deserve equal attention from business and public leaders because Human Sustainability is as important as Environmental Sustainability for our ability to endure and thrive as a species in harmony with others.

A recent Deloitte report also finds a big shift is taking place when it comes to workforce wellbeing. The concept has started growing beyond an organization’s current employees to prioritize long-term?human sustainability. Most of the executives surveyed in Deloitte’s 2023 Well-being at Work survey (89 percent) say their company is advancing human sustainability in some capacity. However, just 41 percent of employees agree, revealing a significant disconnect in perceptions.

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How does generative AI impact human sustainability? Below I discuss 3 threats and 3 opportunities.

Threats

1. Job Loss: ?A 2023 study by the McKinsey Global Institute finds gen AI could automate almost 10 percent of tasks in the US economy. Twelve million occupational transitions are likely going to need to happen between now and 2030, with 80 percent of those concentrated in four occupations: customer service, food service, production, and office support. This transition, if left unmanaged, will affect people of color and women more. For instance, women are about 50 percent more likely to be in one of those occupations that needs to transition, compared with men. Job loss will also have a negative impact on employee wellbeing, as it leads to financial insecurity, stress, and anxiety.

2. Bias and Discrimination: Recent research ?found bias in the generative AI art generation application, Midjourney. When asked to create images of people in specialized professions, it showed both younger and older people, but the older people were always men, reinforcing gendered bias of the role of women. There were also notable differences in the appearances. For example, women appeared younger, while men were “allowed” to have wrinkles.

3. Deepfakes and Disinformation: Generative AI systems can be used to create deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media. In plain terms, the technology can be used to create realistic videos of people saying or doing things that they never actually said or did. This could be used to spread false information about employees, to damage their reputations and even impact the employer brand. A deepfake could also be used to create a video of the C-Suite expressing concerns about the company financial projections, which could cause anxiety and stress for many employees.

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Opportunities

1. Reduced Workload and Improved Productivity:?Generative AI can be used to automate many tasks that are currently performed by humans. Examples include generative AI’s ability to support interactions with customers, generate creative content for marketing and sales, and draft computer code based on natural-language prompts, among other tasks. This can free up employees to focus on more creative and fulfilling work, which can lead to increased job satisfaction and wellbeing. A 2023 study by McKinsey & Company found that generative AI could boost global GDP by trillions.

2. Improved Hiring

I often compare the hiring process to dating, where there is a process of matching. Better matches in the hiring process means longer retention and higher productivity for the organization. Generative AI can improve hiring by identifying qualified candidates. Instead of focusing on education and experience requirements, generative AI can search through large databases of resumes or social media profiles to find candidates who have the skills and experience that are required for a particular job. For example, a company that is hiring for a data scientist position could use generative AI to search through resumes and profiles to identify candidates who have python and other relevant skills required for the job.

This shift towards skills-based strategy has resulted in more than 100 percent increase in Black senior-level employees over the last three years at LinkedIn ("How LinkedIn parses talent, skills, and diversity" , HBS). If you have 45 minutes, check out this practical course which is the only course on LinkedIn covering how to leverage data analytics to build a skills-based workforce strategy.

3. Improved Connection and Belonging

We have seen stories from employees who have been able to leverage AI to?improve their work communications . This can be particularly impactful for those working in their non-native language, and neurodivergent employees that have barriers to communication. This increased ability to communicate effectively can lead to a greater sense of connection and?belonging ?at work.

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Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize the workplace, but it is important to be aware of the threats and challenges that this technology poses to human sustainability. Which ones resonate with you? Join the conversation on LinkedIn in comments or send me a reply!

As I reflect on the year, I am most proud of the positive impact I’ve made on 20,000+ learners across my LinkedIn Learning courses , the launch of Abe platform (a true zero-to-one experience!), and sharing knowledge in front of ~50,000 people across the globe as a speaker.

I am grateful for the family and friends who stood by me as I navigated challenging times as a year-one founder, and my mentors and sponsors from past employers who continued to cheer me on. I wasn't able to fit every memorable Data With Serena event in the highlight; here are some of the happiest moments:????

Thank you for all the messages you've continued to send me with insightful questions. As I am unable to reply all the direct messages in my LinkedIn inbox, I’ve compiled a short Q&A based on the top questions received this year.

Q: Should I stay in my corporate 9-5 job and build a side hustle or go "all-in" like you?

A: This depends on your own risk tolerance and financial readiness. I’ve coached several executives who left their C-level roles and successfully launched their own business this year. I've also mentored several Gen Z and millennial professionals to start building a strong personal brand on LinkedIn. Based on the questions I've used to guide them through this process, I created the "Stay or Go" Serena bot to have an in-depth conversation with you on this topic! I'll also be co-hosting a candid discussion with Dan Riley , founder of RADICL , to answer your questions live.

Q: How did you have the confidence that Data With Serena will succeed?

A: I have always wanted to be a speaker and writer for as long as I can remember. Speaking on stage in front of a large live audience had been something I envisioned since my early teen years. This doesn’t mean I’m never nervous or I don’t need to prep at length! If you have specific questions on this topic, please leave a comment so I can address in future LI posts. Ultimately, a solid business plan, super supportive family and friends, and an engaging community are what made me successful thus far. ???????????????

Q: Will you consider going back to corporate?

A: This will sound weird but I don’t feel like I’ve left corporate. Many of Data With Serena clients are corporations with 10K+ employees, similar the environment I was in as an executive. I am familiar with the challenges in these environments and find it fulfilling to help organizations get value out of their data, through my focused consulting efforts on AI strategy and data storytelling workshops. ?

COMING UP NEXT:

?? Data With Serena will be hiring to continue to serve the growing customer base. If you are aligned with my purpose of helping people LIVE BETTER using data and AI, and you have skills to contribute to sales, marketing, IT, content creation, event planning, and consulting, please express your interest HERE . I'll reach out for conversation in Jan. (Yes, the same philosophy I live by will apply: you can work from anywhere in the world and you are excited to join me on a few of Data With Serena trips.)

?? Do you know what actually works for personal brand building? In the upcoming SASE webinar "How to Build a Personal Brand so Powerful that You Can't Be Ignored", sponsored by DOW, I’ll reveal a simple framework you can use and answer all your burning questions LIVE. Sign up and invite a friend to join you today: https://ow.ly/uve150QgYEg

? I'll be in Asia and California for business most of January 2024. Tap the notification bell on my profile so you don't miss any meetup opportunities!

Dr. Serena Huang is an accomplished thought leader and professional keynote speaker who also regularly guest-lectures at top MBA programs including Kellogg, Wharton, and Haas. She provides keynote speaking, hands-on training, and consulting services on people analytics, data storytelling, and AI strategy.

Dr. Huang is the author of a series of popular LinkedIn Learning courses on People Analytics with 20K+ learners, and recognized as a Top 15 LinkedIn Expert in Chicago in 2023. She most recently served as the Global Head of People Analytics & HR Tech at PayPal?and previously built the people analytics functions at Kraft Heinz, GE, and Koch Industries. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics with specializations in Econometrics and Labor Economics.

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