Human Resources (HR) professionals are becoming more knowledgeable about how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance HR, according to exclusive new state of the industry research by HR.com. Although it still has a long way to go, the HR profession has made progress over the last year. Moreover, the research indicates HR professionals expect a dramatic increase in the usage of AI for HR over the next five years.
Now available for download, the HR.com research report, The Current and Future State of AI in HR, is based on responses from 626 HR professionals participating in a survey fielded in August and September 2018. This is the second annual HR.com survey on the topic of AI in HR.
Most HR professionals still have much to learn about using AI for the purpose of enhancing the HR function, but the proportion who agree that they are knowledgeable in this area jumped from 36% to 43%. This year, more agree rather than disagree that they are knowledgeable about AI, a contrast to the 2017 data.
In 2018, 10% of HR professionals are already using AI for HR purposes to a high or very high degree in their organizations. Nearly half (46%) predict that their HR departments will be using AI to a high or very degree by 2023. And, among those who are already knowledgeable about AI, the percentage is 65%.
“This is good news,” said Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO of HR.com. “As a profession, HR is getting up to speed in this critical area, and two-thirds of the knowledgeable HR pros think their organizations will be high users of AI in just five years. Things are happening fast, and it’s getting even more important for HR to quickly climb the AI learning curve.”
For the second year in a row, HR professionals agree that AI has the greatest potential to improve HR in the area of analytics (82%), followed by talent acquisition, learning and development, time and attendance, and performance management. Fully three-quarters (76%) of all HR professionals indicate that using AI in the area of HR analytics and metrics will be important by 2023.
AI will also have an impact on the workforce outside the HR function. More HR professionals (26%) anticipate AI will cause a net loss in jobs, compared to only 19% who expect net job gains. However, most (55%) anticipate there will be no significant losses or gains.
The study asked a series of questions about the use of AI in the area of learning and development (L&D). It was found that 83% agree that adding AI capabilities to e-learning systems will improve L&D effectiveness. And 82% believe that the combination of AI and augmented reality devices will improve on-the-job training.
The research also found that, generally speaking, HR professionals still have some conflicted feelings about the power of AI, but they are becoming more comfortable with it. Respondents were asked how they would feel about AI software that tracks employees, analyzes those activities, and then regularly reports back to their supervisors with a summary and recommendations. Few love or detest the idea outright, but more HR professionals like, rather than dislike, the idea. In 2017, more respondents disliked the idea rather than liked it.
DOWNLOAD the complimentary research report and accompanying informative infographic, The Current and Future State of AI in HR
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For more information, contact:
Debbie McGrath
Chief Instigator and CEO, HR.com
dmcgrath@hr.com
877-472-6648
www.HR.com