Hollywood Villainized AI, Let’s Not Add More Fuel to the Fire (Oops, Did I Think That Out Loud #44)

To be honest (and at the risk of aging myself), even today, when someone says AI, Tom Cruise and The Minority Report come to mind. Over the years, sci-fi literature and the entertainment industry have finessed the man vs. machine archetype. In that fictional world where black and white are usually easier to distinguish, we often associate the human characters with protagonist roles and the machines as the evil antagonists.

While I am a fan of some sci-fi works, I think the entertainment industry has inadvertently created some illogical beliefs and unnecessary fear in today's society toward technology. With AI becoming a trending topic in the professional world, some illogical beliefs are now permeating the content that I hear and interact with—so much so that I am slowly starting to wonder if the first rule of using AI is you do not talk about using AI.

I enjoy a good debate on all aspects of technology and artificial intelligence in the workplace. We need more of these productive dialogues to ensure technology is used to enable people at work. With this in mind, I came up with a few thoughts on how to ground ourselves and productively discuss technology without getting caught up in its dramatics.

1. Everyone is learning constantly.

Some of us have more time and effort (and inherent curiosity/inclination) to study information on a specific topic. The world is moving so fast that it is impossible to be an expert in any topic area for an extended period without absorbing and reflecting on new information. So, keep that in mind the next time you consume information, as the creator of that information is likely on a learning journey with you—they are just slightly further ahead.

2. Technology is a tool.

Today, it's AI; a few years ago, it was the unified orchestration tech layer; before that, it was mobile and UI, and before that, it was HR in the cloud. This industry's list of technological innovations is endless and will continue to be so. As the cycle time shortens between each innovation, we have to remember that, at its core, technology is a tool that helps us solve our problems. Ultimately, we are responsible for identifying the problem, understanding the nature of it, and determining the toolset we would like to use to solve the problem. Don't put the cart before the horse.

3. Most information are opinions and perspectives.

At some point in my career, someone told me we work in HR, not the ER. There are a lot of layers to that statement that I will unravel another day, but the one point (arguably not the person's intended point) that stuck with me in that statement is how subjective most things are in our industry. Think about it: when was the last time you answered a question with "It depends"? The subjective nature of this industry (short of what's outlined in laws and regulations) also means that most information you consume is someone's opinion or perspective. While that is entirely valid, as the consumer of the information, you need to remember that the content you are consuming doesn't represent the full 360-degree view of the subject matter (yes, even this sentence is my perspective only).

4. What is suitable for others may not be right for you.

The question that irks me the most when discussing HR Tech architecture in meetings is: What is everyone else doing? And the one statement that still haunts me is: But so-and-so used this tech at their last company and they didn't like it.

Like the season's latest trends, what works for others might not work for you (hello, crew socks). While some HR tech solution portfolios can be created based on archetype companies, the reality is that no two companies are exactly alike. Just because one company succeeded with a specific core HRIS and analytics tool stack doesn't mean another company in the same industry will achieve the same outcome with the same tech stack. Technology selection is as much about the company's needs as it is about its culture, implementation team, maintenance team, and the root cause of the problem the technology is being used to address. So, do yourself a favor and don't mindlessly follow what everyone else is doing. Figure out what the right mix is for you.

5. "I don't know, but let me look into it" is a perfectly valid response

This one is inspired by a presentation I listened to in the past few months, where the presenter shared their perspective on AI technology. When asked for recommendations on which AI tools should be considered for the screening and interviewing process, they responded with a solution focused on learning, a full-suite ATS solution, and another solution not in the TA space at all. We all need to get comfortable with the fact that just because we have the mic, it doesn't make us an expert in every question that comes our way. In the age of information overload, I think it's reasonable for all of us to have knowledge gaps. After all, where is the joy in life if we know everything about everything?

The next time you hear a new piece of information or an opinion expressed as a fact, please take a pause and ask yourself, "What's my perspective on this?" before you catalog it in your mind as something to appreciate and move on from, or as something that will influence your decisions and inform your perspective.