Artificial Intelligence in HCM: False Idols and Real Value

At the 2017 HR Technology Expo and Conference, Aberdeen witnessed something startling: Human Capital Management (HCM) technology vendors were downplaying AI as they described how they were catapulting their solution agenda further ahead into the 21st century. While one of the reasons for this is that the technology is not yet living up to the visions over which Wall Street is hopelessly salivating, the reality is that HCM vendors are not on board with the elimination of people from the workforce. It simply doesn't jibe with their goals and the way they see the market. While themes related to machine learning and AI came up in conversations with these technologists, HCM vendors seemed more excited about the way advanced-stage analytics and predictive capabilities rooted in trend analyses were helping people use technology more effectively. In other words, technologists are more interested in how their creations are finally improving labor productivity.