San Francisco-based performance management platform Lattice made a splash last week when it announced that it would explore allowing AI bots to be treated as employees within its internal software: onboarding the bots, integrating them into the company’s organizational chart, and managing their performance.
Lattice then decided to reverse course following online backlash from HR and tech industry professionals.
We’ve rounded up articles and resources from SHRM Online and other outlets to provide more context on the news.
‘The AI Workforce Is Here’
Lattice CEO Sarah Franklin said the idea behind the initial July 9 announcement was driven by the fact that a growing number of employers are integrating AI bots, or agents, into workflows, so it could be time to bring those digital workers into the company’s HR ecosystem.
“The conversation around digital workers has been theoretical—until now,” Franklin said in a statement. “The AI workforce is here, and Lattice believes that we need to fully understand what it looks like to integrate AI employees into the workforce to make sure we create transparent, responsible practices around hiring AI.”
By treating AI agents just like human employees, businesses can take advantage of their utility while still holding them accountable for meeting goals, she added.
Industry Backlash
On July 12, following hundreds of negative comments on social media, Lattice announced that it would not be moving forward with its plans to treat AI bots as employees.
One commenter said that doing so “disrespects the humanity of your real employees” and that the company’s “strategy and messaging misses the mark in a big way,” without solving any real customer need.
In a statement announcing the decision to reverse course, Lattice said, “This innovation sparked a lot of conversation and questions that have no answers yet. We look forward to continuing to work with our customers on the responsible use of AI but will not further pursue digital workers in the product.”
(Inc.)
White-Collar Workers to Be Most Impacted by GenAI
Recent research released by SHRM and The Burning Glass Institute revealed that
generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) will usher in seismic changes to the world of work, enhancing productivity and transforming job roles over the next 10 years. However, the cost of that surge will be layoffs and hiring slowdowns in many white-collar occupations as employers adjust to a new reality.
AI Presents HR with an Extraordinary Call to Action
HR leaders are uniquely positioned to drive human-centered artificial intelligence adoption in the workplace, according to Nichol Bradford, the AI+HI executive in residence at SHRM. Bradford said that HR professionals have a tremendous opportunity to shape the future of work as AI+HI catalysts and change agents, fostering learning, experimentation, and growth.
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HR must always include human intelligence and oversight of AI in decision-making in hiring and firing, a legal expert said at SHRM24. She added that HR can ensure compliance by meeting the strictest AI standards, which will be in Colorado’s upcoming AI law.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.
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