Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
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Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
- One of the most intriguing prospects for AI in the future workplace lies in its potential to moderate human workers.
- The future of work under AI moderation holds immense promise, but also significant challenges.
- To avoid a “Big Brother”-like scenario, it’s crucial to establish clear rules and safeguards around the use of AI in the workplace.
As we stand on the precipice of the fifth industrial revolution, the role of tech and artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping our work environments is becoming increasingly apparent.
According to a global research report by Infosys, diversifying talent pools, improving skills development, and using digital tools automation could generate up to $1.4 trillion in revenue and $282 billion in new profit.
AI has already begun to redefine traditional work paradigms, driving efficiency and productivity to unprecedented levels. But one of the most intriguing prospects for AI in the future workplace lies in its potential to moderate human workers.
Technology is playing a pivotal role in moderating workers in the future of work — although some of it can seem more like a “big brother” type scenario.
Electronic monitoring can involve having employees sign in online, tracking work vehicles’ locations and gas consumption, or installing cameras in the workplace. Employee monitoring software can track web browsing and application use, block content and applications, and capture screenshots of user activity. This surveillance can have many negative impacts, and potentially hurt employee morale.
Here’s how AI and tech might influence, manage, and moderate the human workforce in the years to come:
1. The AI Supervisor
Imagine a workplace where your supervisor isn’t a human but an AI system. This might seem like science fiction, but it’s closer to reality than you might think. Companies are already exploring the use of AI to manage tasks traditionally performed by human supervisors. These include scheduling, performance monitoring, and even providing feedback.
AI systems can analyze vast amounts of data faster and more accurately than their human counterparts. They can identify patterns and trends in worker performance, offering real-time insights that help employees optimize their work. By providing unbiased, data-driven feedback, AI can help eliminate subjective biases that sometimes influence human-led evaluations.
2. Workplace Efficiency and Productivity
AI moderation could revolutionize workplace efficiency. For instance, AI can monitor workflows and identify bottlenecks or inefficiencies that might escape human notice. It can suggest optimal work schedules based on individual employee performance patterns, ensuring peak productivity.
AI can provide personalized recommendations for skill development based on an individual’s strengths and weaknesses. It can suggest courses, webinars, or training programs that will help employees improve in areas where they’re lacking, or, on the other hand, report their unproductivity to their managers.
As for scheduling and task assignment, AI systems can optimize schedules and task assignments based on an understanding of each worker’s skills, availability, and other factors.
3. Measure Wellness
In the future, AI could play a significant role in moderating workers’ wellness by providing personalized, real-time feedback and interventions. Advanced algorithms could monitor various health parameters such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and stress levels through wearable devices, then analyze this data to detect signs of burnout or other health issues. AI could also assess cognitive load and emotional states from digital footprints, enabling proactive measures to ensure mental well-being.
By integrating with work management systems, AI could optimize work schedules, balancing productivity with rest periods, and suggest activities like breaks, exercises, or mindfulness sessions when necessary.
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AI chatbots could even offer immediate psychological support, provide counseling or direct employees to appropriate resources. In essence, AI could foster a holistic approach to worker wellness, promoting both physical and mental health while enhancing productivity. But…it could also overstep when evaluating wellness.
Researchers at Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology in Surat have utilized AI to detect colds by examining alterations in a person’s voice. By studying the harmonics of speech, they could identify individuals who were genuinely suffering from a cold. The research involved 630 participants, 111 of whom had a cold, and achieved a 70% accuracy rate.
The study aimed to determine if someone has a cold without requiring a doctor’s visit. However, it’s possible that this technology could also be used by employers to verify if employees are truly sick or merely pretending to take time off work. If this technology evolves and leads to new products, employers could potentially discern who is ill or not based on the tone of their voices during a call, which is completely uncharted territory.
4. Ethical Considerations and Challenges
While the prospect of AI moderation offers some interesting possibilities, it also raises significant ethical questions. Concerns about privacy and surveillance in the workplace could become even more pressing in a world where AI systems monitor every aspect of an employee’s work.
While AI can help eliminate human bias, it’s also susceptible to the biases embedded in the data it’s trained on. There’s a risk that unchecked AI systems could perpetuate and even amplify existing biases, leading to unfair outcomes.
Finally, there’s the question of responsibility and accountability. If an AI system makes a decision that leads to negative consequences, who is held accountable? These are complex issues that will require careful consideration as we move towards an AI-moderated workplace.
The future of work under AI moderation holds immense promise, but also significant challenges. As AI begins to play a larger role in managing and moderating human workers, it’s essential that we address these ethical concerns head-on.
AI has the potential to create workplaces that are more efficient, productive, and fair. But achieving this vision will require careful planning, robust regulatory frameworks, and ongoing dialogue between all stakeholders. It’s an exciting journey, and one that we’re only just beginning to embark upon.
To avoid a “Big Brother”-like scenario, it’s crucial to establish clear rules and safeguards around the use of AI in the workplace. Employees should be informed about how their data is being used, and they should have the opportunity to give or withhold consent. AI systems should also be transparent and accountable, meaning that it’s possible to understand and challenge their decisions.
The future is not set in stone; it is something we shape with our actions today. As technology continues to evolve and become more integrated into the workplace, it is important to balance the benefits of these advancements with the potential risks. This includes considering the privacy protections employees need in the workplace and when working from home.
As we move forward, it will be essential for businesses and organizations to navigate these changes responsibly, ensuring that the future of work is not only productive and efficient but also respectful of employee rights and privacy.
