Legitimate Concerns
The use of generative AI in business raises legitimate concerns and the risks are already well known:
Risks of cognitive offloading
The intensive use of generative IA could weaken certain cognitive abilities, such as critical thinking or the capacity to reason and solve complex problems, if these skills are not regularly exercised
Impact on professional skills
The overuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in professional contexts can lead to a phenomenon called skills atrophy, where individuals may lose or weaken certain skills over time due to reduced practice or reliance on technology. For example, lawyers might lose proficiency in legal research and writing if they rely heavily on AI to draft contracts or case briefs
Effects on neuroplasticity
According to cognitive neuroscience researchers, prolonged interaction with generative AI could reduce the brain’s ability to adapt and develop in response to experience
Loss of creativity
By generating content autonomously, generative AI could reduce the opportunities – or even the desire – to exercise creativity and imagination, thus impoverishing our creative and innovative capacities
Reproduction of bias
AI algorithms can reproduce biases in their training data and design, resulting in discriminatory responses and erroneous analysis
Undeniable opportunities
However, the judicious use of generative AI can unlock employees’ intellectual potential, fostering learning, innovation, and collaboration:
- Tasks automation frees up time and reduces cognitive load, allowing employees to focus on strategic and creative activities
- The production of comprehensive analysis by AI facilitates the exploration of new ideas and informed decision-making
- AI’s ability to process large volumes of data facilitates the resolution of complex problems, fostering innovation
- By tailoring learning paths to employees’ specific needs, AI can foster skills development
- By relieving employees from repetitive tasks, AI creates new opportunities for developing collective intelligence
Resisting or embracing AI ?
Given the global trend toward widespread AI adoption and the risks of losing competitiveness by resisting its integration, it is more strategic to focus on how to embrace AI sustainably.
HR professionals should play a pivotal role in this transformation, guiding organizations to adopt AI as a complement to human intelligence rather than a substitute:
- Facilitating training and skills development: organizing awareness sessions, providing training in the rational use of AI tools, training in the development of critical thinking, creativity or collective intelligence, skills development in order to adapt employees’ skills to coming job changes
- Promoting a sustainable approach, addressing human, legal, and ethical considerations associated with AI to ensure responsible adoption
- Evaluating needs and analyzing potential impacts of AI on job roles, skills, and work organization
- Developing ethically optimized HR processes enabling HR teams to refocus on supporting people
- Supporting the selection and implementation of augmented HR tools tailored to the company’s needs
- Helping establish a framework for the ethical and effective use of AI within the organization: HR Charter, contractual clauses, internal policies…
HR professionals must position themselves as key drivers of this transformation. This is a unique opportunity to lead – let’s seize it!
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence
