But many still believe in AI's benefits in the workplace
HR leaders in New Zealand are recognising the benefits of artificial intelligence for the sector, but several of them are concerned that they could be replaced by the emerging technology soon.
More than one-third (36%) of HR professionals say they are worried that they might lose their jobs to AI, says Stuff, citing research from Employment Hero.
Benefits of AI for HR
Despite these fears, more HR leaders admit that AI could make their jobs easier, Stuff reported. According to the respondents, AI would have a significant impact on:
- Training and development (35%)
- Workforce planning (32%)
- Employee analytics (31%)
In fact, 40% of HR leaders there are already leveraging AI to identify and report on employee data trends that can be used for efficient onboarding and retention activities. They are also being used on internal workforce gauges such as employee happiness, absence or disengagement, as well as performance and ROI, Stuff reported.
Up to 300 million full-time jobs across all sectors worldwide could be impacted as generative AI penetrates more workplaces.
'Paced approach' to AI at work
Dave Tong, co-founder, chief technology officer and head of product at Employment Hero, told Stuff most HR leaders believe in a "paced approach" towards AI use.
"This could reflect how they'd like to see AI rolled out, so they have time to learn and adapt as these new tools are introduced.”
A recent Gartner research found that "most HR leaders" expect a decrease in headcount within the HR function once generative AI is implemented across workplaces.
There are only five per cent of HR leaders who said they are already implementing generative AI in their function, according to Gartner's survey on the matter. More than half said they are "currently exploring" how to utilise it, while 14% said they are not planning on using it in the near-term.
New Zealand's Privacy Commissioner previously warned organisations on the potential consequences of using generative AI as more workplaces utilise them.
"Generative AI is covered by the Privacy Act 2020 and my Office will be working to ensure that is being complied with; we will investigate where appropriate," Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster said.
