AI is no longer a buzzword, it is here to stay. 2023 saw a breakthrough on large language models and how AI can assist people in gaining knowledge and as well as creative content. ChatGPT gained 1 million users in just 5 days, AI is in our daily lives and it will rapidly increase our productivity in 2024. According to Mckinsey it has the potential to save 60% to 70% of employees’ time. Not since the introduction of the internet has there been such a change to the working world.
In 2024 we will experience huge benefits from AI to organisations.
The perception that AI will take over human employment leaving mass redundancies will become less of a concern. The reality that AI works with the grain of human nature, enhancing people’s capabilities rather than replacing them – will become more apparent in daily life. AI can’t function without the input of people, but people will have to reskill to manage this new responsibility of having an AI co-pilot. Once employees are comfortable with the adoption of AI, organisations will enjoy a rapid boost in productivity. HR professionals are crucial to the success of the implementation of AI throughout organisations so it is imperative the sector understands the new working landscape.
Predictions on how AI will enhance productivity in 2024
Less time spent on laborious queries
AI is a massive revolution, the single biggest since the internet and in 2024 the reality of it will set in. Everyday more people will use AI in their lives. As customer experience increasingly relies on AI to resolve queries, employees will have more time to spend on more challenging tasks and more time to upskill. HR Managers should be ready to boost employees’ career paths with clear continuous learning plans that inspire.
Employees become editors
Next year and beyond most office based employees will use AI assistance for an increasing number of tasks. This makes the skillset of an editor, fact-checker and reliability checker increasingly more important. By skilling-up to efficiently oversee quality control and to humanise computer generated text, employees will complete tasks more quickly without losing the human touch. Using AI in the right way will empower people to become more creative and free up their time, leaving more laborious tasks to computers. For example, meeting notes will be automatically recorded in sequence and updated in follow up meetings – no need for someone to take on this time consuming responsibility. Employees will be required to adopt editing skills across multiple disciplines and sector wide. HR professionals should be ready to support employees in this new work requirement.
Copilot AIs will be common
AI copilots are already among the working community, but this will increase even further in 2024 leaving more time for creativity. By using AI copilots – human designers, writers and coders can access a vast amount of information and support quickly. Time consuming tasks such as 3D rendering of intricate image details will be completed automatically, leaving more time for the creative sector to create even more ambitious designs. The copilot feature is intrinsic to boosting productivity. HR professionals will be required to address concerns among employees worried about their employment. A fundamental part of this solution will be to train their employees to adjust well to their new Ai tools so that they can work to their full potential.
Huge increase in productivity
2024 will see more text to voice, AI generated translations and copilot content design. Organisations need to embrace the opportunities AI offers. Resistance to change will be an issue that HR professionals may need to grapple with as employees adjust to the change in their ingrained processes. As working processes change, organisations will start to want to have their own models rather than relying on third party providers. This will enable more control over the source material that will feed into employees AI models, ensuring it is accurate and regulated. There will be a surge in organisations assessing and refining their AI policies and there will be wider controls on ethical and responsible uses and management of AI. The only way to harness this shift in commercial reality is by educating and upskilling employees.
So as the next phase in AI really makes a substantial impact on the global economy, the HR sector needs to be ready to both reassure and upskill. HR should be ready to update their training programmes for employees inline with their new AI responsibilities. Employees should be reassured that AI is not going to replace them, but will enhance, empower and make their working lives a lot more exciting. Leadership teams should know that AI will offer a more fulfilled and happy workforce with increased productivity. This technology represents the future. It’s indisputable, you need to be part of this.
