From chatbots to measuring the lifetime value of employees: AI is rapidly augmenting HR

When SD Worx conducted an online poll of its customers, asking which functions of HR would benefit most from artificial intelligence (AI), it found the top three areas were: recruitment (62%), engagement (24%) and talent management (18%). What the global payroll and HR service provider didn't ask, however, was how long customers expected it would take before AI had a real impact. But, according to Laurence Collins, director of people and HR analytics at Deloitte, the expansion of AI into HR is already underway. "It's going to happen faster and harder than HR people are ready for," he warns, adding that it's "moving from traditional HR shared services administration up to HR business partner work – for example virtual assistants who provide us with cognitive insights". The bottom line is you can't take the human out of HR.