AI will evolve from playing merely a supporting-level role to a collaborating one

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There has been tons of debate and discussion on jobs and the workplace in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). I am quite confident that the most realistic workplace structure in the era of AI will be teams consisting of humans and AI. Amazon’s efforts to make Echo a key component of the workplace is a good example of this gradual (and soon-to-be rapid) evolution of the technology.

We will soon move into more of a familiar stage in our relationship with AI, accepting it as an assistant in our daily work lives (for work and play). AI will evolve from playing merely a supporting-level role to a collaborating one. In fact, humans and machines have already been working as a team for some time, but with AI’s advancement the hierarchy between the two will evolve into one closer to that of equals.

Anup Varier believes that future belongs to teams of humans and computers working together. “Gartner’s studies explain that ‘humans versus machines’ is not a binary decision; sometimes machines working alongside humans is a better choice,” Varier wrote in a piece for PC World.

“IBM’s Watson does background research for doctors, just like a research assistant, to ensure they account for all the latest clinical, research and other information when making diagnoses or suggesting treatments.”

In order words, AI will not replace all jobs but it will push all of us to work with AI. As a serial entrepreneur and manager, I like to think I have a realistic approach to how AI will influence our workplace. Each employee should work with an ‘AI colleague’. The main functions of an AI colleague in this context would be:

Trace and accumulate data of the employee it is working with
Provide support through analyzed data and graphs
Documentation support (i.e. composing drafts of reports)
Personal assistance: recording meetings, events, updating contacts book, etc.
Knowledge and know-how management
Simulation and decision making

I am convinced that the benefits of a so-called AI colleague would be enjoyed by both managers and employees.

For example, managers struggle to cover the costs (financial and non-financial) that result from employee turnover. If we set up one-to-one structures with AI technology, I think it would be possible to minimize the damage of employee turnover since an AI colleague would have managed and kept track of all related jobs alongside the former employee.

And for employees, If an AI solution with these minimum functions can be found, I think it would be a great weight off of employees’ shoulders. To date, similar trials have been tested at Bank of America with its AI chatbot called Erica, and the practice of coworking with AI has been trialled at AYASDI.

UBS Group AG is another example. Harvard Business Review recently reported that, “Amazon’s Alexa just got a new job. In addition to her other 15,000 skills like playing music and telling knock-knock jokes, she can now also answer economic questions for clients of the Swiss global financial services company, UBS Group AG.”

While this idea has yet to be tested aggressively, academia is gradually accepting the need to manage AI similarly to humans. With this in mind, it’s my expectation that the role of Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) will expand to compete with Chief Digital Officer (CDO) or vice versa soon.

Also discuss: Is Artificial Intelligence an existential risk to humanity?

This Human-AI team will be a prevailing force since the cost of AI will decrease exponentially in the years to come. The role of AI colleagues will move from support to collaboration. With the technology’s advancement, the relationship will move from being one of top-down to more peer-to-peer.

Indeed, McKinsey concluded in a recent report that, “Cheaper, more capable, and more ﬂexible technologies are accelerating the growth of fully automated production facilities. The key challenge for companies will be deciding how best to harness their power.”

I’m looking forward to the day when my team has 10 employees: five humans and five AI – and I think it will be sooner than many of us expect.

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