The human advantage: How AI can create opportunities in the world of work
In this blog, Kate Field explores how AI can shape the future of work in a positive way, boosting productivity and enhancing worker well-being.
From AI to automation, technology offers the potential for us to work smarter. As society finds itself amidst the digital revolution, there are concerns about what this means for jobs, but there is also scope to be optimistic about the future. Roles that emerge from technological advances like AI have the potential to drive progress and have a positive impact on society.
The digital transition is already shaping the workplace
According to BSI’s Trust in AI Poll[1], 38% of people say their job already uses AI, and 62% expect their industry to use AI by 2030. In some areas, it is already creating opportunities to make work better.
In recruitment, AI can help organizations spot talent to enhance the diversity of shortlisted candidates or deliver effective leaders. Researchers compared machine learning in hiring directors with human-selected boards, finding that the latter were more likely to be male, had larger networks, and had many past and current directorships. By contrast, the machine algorithm found directors who were not friends of management, had smaller networks, and had different backgrounds to management.
Healthcare is another area where AI is augmenting the human role – for example, by giving MRI scans a preliminary review so doctors can prioritize patients. AI is also able to relieve knowledge workers of menial work, such as extracting information from volumes of data. In combination with advanced robotics, it offers the opportunity to fill key skills gaps and improve safety; for example, by performing high-risk tasks in the nuclear industry.
New skills for a new digital era
Freed from mundane or risky tasks, AI offers the opportunity to give people the space and ability to excel where technology alone cannot – in skills such as critical thinking, empathy and in the creativity that could, ultimately, unlock even more innovation. Support and guidance throughout their careers – and earlier, in education – can help people develop those skills. Indeed, 55% of people BSI polled said we need to be training young people now for working in an AI-powered world.
Call centres are a case in point. These have traditionally offered high-turnover minimum wage jobs, but our poll found that 58% of us now communicate with a service provider online via an automated chatbot. According to BT’s Dr Nicola Millard, AI chatbots can take on the easy questions and leave the more challenging queries to humans, something that is designed to boost productivity.
The advantages of a human-centric approach
As AI takes on simpler tasks, focus can shift to human traits AI cannot replicate. This could make a huge difference, in particular in people management. Gallup has found that globally, poor management costs around $7 trillion. With AI taking on routine tasks, organizations can create a new managerial model focused on enabling their team to perform at their best.
Organizations can plan for tomorrow by considering the training they offer. How are they creating learning opportunities in areas such as empathy, critical and creative thinking? 53% of people say with the right training, they would trust AI to do some parts of their job. Helping people understand AI gives them the chance to successfully apply it to their work, while knowing its limitations.
Work smarter, not longer
The dawn of AI as a real player in the workplace offers the potential to both enhance productivity and improve people’s quality of life with better work-life balance. As with the Industrial Revolution, the AI transition could reshape society. By prioritizing people and putting them at the centre of that change, the opportunity is there to drive progress and make work better for everyone.
This content is from BSI’s Shaping Society 5.0 campaign. Download Kate’s full essay or access others in the collection here.
Kate Field, Global Head Health, Safety and Well-being, BSI
Named as one of SHP magazine’s Most Influential Individuals in Health and Safety in 2021, Kate is BSI’s global health, safety and well-being expert. She has over 20 years of experience across all sectors, and as the author of the BSI’s Prioritizing People Model© helps us understand the impact digitization has on building workplace trust, engagement and well-being.
[1] BSI partnered with Censuswide to survey 10,144 adults across nine markets (Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, UK, and US) between 23rd and 29th August 2023
