Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how work gets done. As intelligent machines and systems are increasingly adopted across industries, what impact does this have on employees and organisations? A new comprehensive review of research on AI in the workplace reveals key insights.
AI Brings Both Opportunities and Challenges for HR
On one hand, AI can optimize repetitive tasks, freeing up employees for higher-value work. It can also enhance decision-making, learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. However, concerns remain around job losses from automation and potential discrimination from AI systems.
Human resources (HR) has an important role to play in ensuring AI promotes productivity while protecting employee wellbeing. However, research on AI’s impact has been fragmented. This review aimed to provide a holistic overview to guide HR strategy.
The Review Methodology
The researchers systematically reviewed 60 studies on AI and workplace outcomes published in leading journals over 25 years. They analyzed patterns in publication year, methodology, theories, and findings.
A key focus was examining AI’s impact across different HR functions like recruitment, training, performance management, and health and safety.
Key Insights for HR Professionals
The analysis revealed several practical implications for HR professionals:
- Use AI in talent recruitment to efficiently search broader candidate pools and objectively assess cultural fit.
- Employ AI-powered training systems that adapt to individual needs and skills gaps.
- Apply AI to gather employee performance data for faster, fairer appraisal systems.
- Leverage AI to identify workplace injury patterns and minimize safety risks.
- Redesign roles to optimize human-AI collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Proactively reskill vulnerable employees whose tasks can be automated.
Cautions for HR and Organisations
However, the researchers caution that to realize benefits, organisations must:
- Ensure employees are adept at interacting with AI systems through training.
- Reorganize teams around complementary skillsets rather than titles.
- Upgrade workforce education levels to maximize human-AI collaboration.
- Mitigate algorithmic bias and ethical issues around AI systems.
- Incorporate employee feedback into AI implementation.
A Research Roadmap for AI’s Future Impact
While revealing valuable insights, the review highlighted significant research gaps. Most studies focus on organisational outcomes, not individual or team impact. And few apply HR theories to explain AI phenomena.
The researchers mapped priorities for future investigation, including:
- How AI could improve strategic HR planning activities like succession planning.
- Using AI to tailor training programs to diverse individual needs.
- Leveraging AI to optimize employee health, safety, and work-life balance.
- Managing linkages between AI, individual creativity, and wellbeing.
- Understanding AI’s influence on trust, motivation and other social dynamics.
- Expanding study of AI impacts beyond the organisational level.
Overall, the review synthesizes current knowledge and sets an agenda to steer AI’s use for superior organisational performance while protecting employee prosperity.