Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay, that much we know, but in recent weeks a very frustrating news item has been making the rounds: the catastrophic future in which machines replace humans has arrived. IBM, one of the most important technology companies in the world, has eliminated approximately 8,000 jobs within the Human Resources (HR) Department. Why? You can probably guess: AI has taken over everything.
The “repetitive” jobs, reading vacation requests, managing payroll or internal company documentation will now be handled by AI systems, like the AskHR platform. Are we facing the future or a step backward?
IBM’s AI transforms Human Resources
And as we were saying, the AskHR platform is currently managing 94% of the routine tasks that would normally be done by humans in the HR department, everything involving paperwork, documentation… that’s history, now AI takes care of it.
Of course, for IBM this is great news (not for us mortals who need a salaried job to survive in this system), because thanks to this move they’ve been able to save billions of dollars and optimize their resources (no need to pay staff salaries). They’ve managed to boost their efficiency so much that they’ve optimized more than 70 lines of business.
But of course… this change raises some questions…
Wait, they’re not decreasing their workforce.
What does this mean? Mainly, that those who actively work in creative areas, critical thinking, human skills or those who work in software, marketing and sales remain employed, but yes, there has been a massive job cut.
Despite everything, IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, has insisted that AI is only there to help them and that they’re using human talent for projects with greater strategic impact.
In fact, it was Krishna himself who detailed the positive data this change has provided and how the structural transformation is working, being the one to state that they’re not replacing human capital in any aspect, but rather redefining the role of employees within the company system.
IBM bets on a hybrid future
Krishna’s vision (which is IBM’s vision) focuses on a future where AI takes on repetitive and administrative tasks, while workers focus on projects requiring analysis, judgment and human sensitivity.
But the reality is that 8,000 jobs have been lost, even though IBM is still hiring people in key areas.
Debate sparked
This example from IBM is giving us a spoiler of what’s to come in the future of the global economy: AI will take over everything. We don’t want to be doomsayers or anything like that, but the reality is that automation is changing everything, and the job market, as some experts have already warned, is an absolute threat to human labor.
You might think that if work ends that’s “better”, but what do you do with your life when your job is replaceable by a machine? There’s no competitiveness, no humanity, and everything in our society depends on the economy we have… where are we headed?
AI as a tool, not a risk
Even though the news seems catastrophic, it’s a glimpse of what we’re going to experience more and more. Obviously, the human body can’t compete with a machine in speed and efficiency but… are we ready to live through “I, Robot” chapters?
Because even if they tell us that AI isn’t here to replace anyone… 8,000 families have had to change their way of life because AI has “stolen” their jobs. Will it be true that IBM can find a fair balance between automation and humanity and ensure that no one is left behind in this revolution? Let’s see in a future…
