AI-volution: Redefining HR

In this episode, Mercer's Global HR Transformation COE, Emily Liddle, and Digital HR Strategist and Service Delivery Leader, Kristin Rhebergen, discuss the key themes and insights from the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference held in London. They explore the growing global audience, the importance of technology in enhancing employee experience, and the evolving role of HR in the age of AI. The conversation emphasizes the need for a strategic approach in HR, focusing on what makes organizations unique and how to effectively utilize technology to improve workforce experiences.

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In this episode, Mike Brennan, Partner & Digital HR & Technology Advisory Services Leader at Mercer, discusses the importance of cross-functional collaboration to create an enterprise AI vision.

Learn why you need to jumpstart development of your AI vision and strategy, and why it's important to remain agile and adaptable to potential disruptors.

Takeaways

In this episode of AI-volution: Redefining HR, Harry West and Lynsey Hathcock, Principal Consultants in Mercer’s HR Next practice, discuss the implementation of AI in HR organizations. They explore how organizations can get started on their AI journeys, the key factors to consider on the journey, and the role of HR in driving the conversation. They also discuss the integration of AI into existing systems and processes, the potential impact on HR roles, and the importance of change management. West and Hathcock emphasize the need for a strategy, experimentation, and monitoring to ensure the successful deployment and sustainment of AI in HR.

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In this episode of AI-volution: Redefining HR, Mercer Global HR Transformation COE Leader, Emily Liddle, interviews Mercer Asia Regional HR Transformation Leader, Miriam Daucher, about the impact of AI in the APAC and Asia market. Daucher shares her insights on the trends and themes she has observed since AI has become more prevalent in her region. She highlights the diversity and cultural differences in Asia, as well as the varying levels of AI adoption and governance. Daucher also discusses specific examples of how AI is being leveraged in different countries, such as Japan's transformation of work models and China's unique AI solutions. She emphasizes the openness and ambition of Asian countries to embrace AI innovations. They conclude by discussing the opportunities and challenges of AI implementation in Southeast Asia and the importance of data protection and employee engagement.

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In this episode of AI-volution: Redefining HR, Kristin Rhebergen, Mercer Principal Digital HR Consultant, deems 2024 the year of education and experimentation in AI and HR. HR teams are diving deeper into understanding practical and transformative applications of generative AI. Access to AI tools is a constraint for HR, but organizations are allowing employees to access public platforms and models with strict policies. She goes into how HR is often leading the way in partnership with IT. Education and experimentation in AI should involve stakeholders from all parts of the organization. Rhebergen urges organizations to start small and focus on both tactical and transformative use cases. Use public AI tools for learning, experimenting, and creating proofs of concept. Lastly, it's important to educate, practice, and collaborate to stay ahead in the AI journey.

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In this episode of AI-volution: Redefining HR, Mercer AI Strategy & Innovation Leader, Adriana O'Kain, and Mercer HR Transformation Services Leader, Alex Zea, discuss the future of HR in the context of AI. They emphasize the need for HR to focus not only on tactical implementation but also on strategic thinking and the role of HR in caring for the human element in AI-driven teams. They highlight the importance of education, experimentation, and enablement in getting started with AI in HR. O'Kain and Zea also go over the value of innovation labs in driving change and embedding AI learnings. Finally, the two stress the need for a mindset shift and rethinking ways of working to fully leverage the potential of AI in HR.

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In this episode of AI-volution: Redefining HR, Mercer Global HR Transformation COE, Emily Liddle, and Mercer AI Products Sales Leader - EU and UK, David Osborne, discuss their perspectives on the impact of AI on the HR function. They share insights from their conversations with clients and highlight the challenges organizations face in adopting AI. The majority of companies are not ready for AI implementation, both in terms of technology infrastructure and skills. Only about 10% of organizations feel prepared for AI; companies struggle with attracting and retaining individuals with the necessary AI skills. Two use cases of AI in HR are brought up in the episode: generative AI for policy harmonization in M&A processes and AI tools for skills mapping and career path recommendations. The two delve into the future of AI in HR and the potential impact on recruitment, hiring, and skills assessment. They further talk about the role of AI in coaching and people management, as well as the ethical considerations of AI. They wrap up by discussing the challenges of data readiness and integration; human involvement is essential in the AI process. Follow Emily and David on LinkedIn to learn more from them.

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Could AI be like the Olympics? 🌐

Similarly, AI has various disciplines, lots of winners, even more losers, international collaboration, and strict governance. Success is measured by multiple metrics and there is no single finish line. Or is it a zero sum game? You either win or lose, game over.

While some aspects are still unfolding, we can already identify clear winners in this tech race. Companies like Apple, NVIDIA, and Microsoft are medalists to be sure. However, what happens when Apple doesn’t need their OpenAI band-aid, er, partnership, any more? Where does Alphabet Inc. net out in all this? What happens to applications, platforms, point solutions, and market places? What does all of this have to do with HRTechnology and your experience architecture?

HR, the latest AI developments have EVERYTHING to do with your experience architecture. When Sam Altman called this a "printing press moment" before Congress last year, he meant the opportunity of technology to become a significant change agent in tipping the trajectory of things. We're already seeing proof in the world of work.

Jason Averbook and Jess Von Bank go over all the latest AI developments, share high-value use cases for Human Resources and the workforce beyond the obvious and they provide demonstrations of some of the best innovation we've seen.

Download Mercer's Now of Work Digital Meetup AI Discussion presentation that Jason and Jess use to review the latest AI updates.

In this episode of the AI-volution: Redefining HR podcast, Jason Averbook is joined by Ravin Jesuthasan, Mercer Global Transformation Services Leader, to discuss the impact of AI on work, HR, and humanity. They explore the misconceptions around AI and the need for a clear understanding of its different applications. They also discuss the transformation of work and the skills needed in the workforce. The conversation highlights the importance of re-architecting work for a generative AI-ready environment and the need for continuous reinvention. The two cover the impact of AI on work and the need for organizations to understand the nuances of skills and job transformation; Averbook and Jesuthasan emphasize the importance of redesigning work to leverage AI and automation effectively. They delve into the societal implications of AI and the need for proactive measures to address the rapid advancements in technology. Continuous learning, experimentation, and consideration of ethical and humanistic perspectives sit at the center. The conversation concludes with a sense of excitement and responsibility to shape the future of work for the better. Check out Ravin’s website and books:

Takeaways:

Apple made a significant AI announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2024. The announcement focused on Apple's approach to design and the impact of AI on HR and HR technology. The key takeaway is that AI is now accessible to everyone, changing the employee experience and how we work. The seven key themes discussed are multimodal AI, agentic interactions, frictionless experiences, predictive capabilities, delegation, modularity, and privacy. These themes highlight the transformative potential of AI in the workplace. Jason Averbook breaks down these theses and how organizations need to start thinking about how to leverage AI and design for the human instead of designing to work with machines.