Artificial intelligence (AI) is often cited as a source of employment risk by those afraid of losing their jobs to emerging technologies that can render them obsolete. However, some experts suggest that AI can actually have a potential upside for employees.
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According to Deloitte’s 2017 Human Capital Trends Report—which draws on surveys from more than 10,000 business and HR leaders in 140 nations—innovative approaches in AI are causing organizations to develop new training models, modify their HR departments, reevaluate their hiring practices, and restructure their organizational makeup.
Here are four ways AI can help improve employee training and development:
Personalized Learning
We all learn differently and have different learning preferences. We also all have varying levels of knowledge about specific topics. Trying to vary and modify training to address all of these individual needs, preferences and knowledge, and skill levels would obviously be a daunting task. But AI can help.
Personalized learning is the practice of catering the method of knowledge and skill delivery based on the unique learning abilities and proficiencies of the student. Using different AI strategies, institutional approaches and programs can be used based on each individual automatically.
Adaptability
AI-based teaching can be used to adapt to the abilities of different individuals, not just at the initiation of the program but based on each individual’s progress in different areas.
In effect, the technology sits on the shoulders of employees, monitoring their progress and adjusting the delivery of information as employees move forward.
Training Program Updates
Training programs can become outdated very quickly, particularly in emerging or highly dynamic industries. That leaves training departments with two basic options: Either continue using increasingly outdated material or spend time, money, and resources to constantly keep the material up to date—again, a time- and labor-intensive proposition.
AI has the potential to do this automatically on its own to continually provide the most up-to-date material and training methods for learners.
Employee Experience Improvement and Cost Reductions
By making better all-around training programs, AI contributes to the employee experience while keeping costs down at the same time. This contributes to a two-fold boost in efficiency.
Many employees fear the impact of technologies like AI on their future employment prospects. Indeed, it’s common and understandable to fear the unknown and expect the worst. However, it’s also possible that new technologies can actually benefit employees as well. Such may be the case with AI.