AI & HR: Friday update

More Work, Less Creativity?

Welcome to FullStack HR, and an extra welcome to the 134 people who have signed up since last edition.

If you haven’t yet subscribed, join the 9000+ smart, curious HR folks by subscribing here:

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Happy Friday,

Yesterday we hit the 9000 mark and steadily passed over the hump as well!
Welcome all new readers, this is the Friday edition of the newsletter and just as I stated in the first Friday edition, it’s a mix of me and AI writing this newsletter.

I do the article sourcing and the short comments, AI makes it comprehendible.

And a common theme in today’s newsletter is education, speaking of which we still have a couple spots left for the HR & AI course. Starts 5th of May.
It’s one of few HR & AI-courses out there that is run by two HR-people.

Last week I asked your feelings towards AI’s impact on your job and you are optimistic (I love it). But we also need to cater for the 9% that are anxious and worried.

And I hope that these updates will help you combat part of that anxiety.

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The Friday poll:

1. The surprising downside of being "10x" more productive. (A must-read!)

This article presents a personal reflection on Jevons' Paradox in the context of modern productivity, particularly with the rise of AI. Increased efficiency in work, enabled by technology like AI, doesn't necessarily lead to less work. Instead, it can create a feeling that the opportunity cost of leisure is higher, leading individuals to fill the newly freed time with more tasks. Ultimately, the paradox suggests that increased productivity can paradoxically result in people working more, not less.

Why it matters for us in HR: The article challenges traditional productivity metrics and highlights the need to manage employee well-being amidst rising performance demands. We must therefore focus on redefining success beyond mere output, fostering sustainable work cultures, and valuing human judgment and creativity as technology makes execution easier.
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2. First Therapy Chatbot Trial Shows Mental Health Benefits

Dartmouth's AI-powered "Therabot" demonstrated significant improvements in participants' mental health, with reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms.

Why it matters for us in HR: Mental health profoundly impacts employee productivity, retention, and engagement. Integrating AI-driven mental health solutions can offer scalable, immediate, and stigma-free support, helping us proactively manage employee well-being, prevent burnout, and foster a healthier workplace culture.
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3. Sky to Cut 2,000 Call Centre Jobs as It Focuses on AI and Online Services

Sky announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 7%, closing call centers in Stockport, Sheffield, and Leeds, and scaling back operations in Newcastle and Dunfermline, to prioritize AI and digital customer service solutions.

Why it matters for us in HR: This development highlights AI's transformative effect on traditional job roles, underscoring our critical role in workforce planning, transition management, and creating robust reskilling programs to prepare employees for emerging roles in an increasingly digital environment.
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4. Bill Gates Predicts AI Will Replace Doctors and Teachers Within 10 Years

Bill Gates projected significant disruption of professional roles such as doctors and teachers by advanced AI systems within the next decade.

Why it matters for us in HR: Such radical predictions reinforce the necessity for us to lead organizational adaptation strategies, continuous learning initiatives, and strategic workforce planning to safeguard jobs and ensure employees remain competitive in a rapidly changing AI-driven landscape.
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5. AI Use in the Workplace Grows, but Training Lags Behind

A survey revealed widespread workplace adoption of AI without adequate training provided by employers.

Why it matters for us in HR: We must prioritize comprehensive and ongoing AI literacy programs, bridging the gap between technology deployment and employee competence to avoid productivity losses, improve employee confidence, and enhance overall workforce effectiveness.
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6. AI Adoption in Consulting Firms Leads to Increased Workloads and Reduced Creativity

An article from The Ken highlights how the integration of AI in consulting firms like BCG and McKinsey has resulted in shorter project deadlines and diminished creativity among consultants.

Why it matters for us in HR: This underscores the importance of carefully managing AI integration to ensure it enhances rather than hinders employee workloads and creativity. We must balance efficiency gains with maintaining a sustainable and innovative work environment.
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7. AI Talent Shortage Threatens Corporate Ambitions

Research from Bain & Company highlights the critical shortage of skilled AI professionals, risking organizational AI ambitions.

Why it matters for us in HR: The AI talent shortage underscores our responsibility to develop targeted recruitment, retention, and internal upskilling strategies. Building robust talent pipelines and fostering internal AI capabilities become vital to maintaining competitiveness and successfully executing AI-driven initiatives.
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8. AI Agents: Embracing a Human-Centric Approach for HR Transformation

Experts recommend adopting a human-centric strategy when integrating AI into HR practices, enhancing rather than replacing employee roles.

Why it matters for us in HR: Embracing a human-centric approach helps us ensure that AI implementations positively impact employee experiences, enhance engagement, and amplify human skills rather than diminish them, maintaining a healthy balance between efficiency and empathy.
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9. Microsoft and Pearson Collaborate to Bridge AI Skills Gap

Microsoft and Pearson formed a strategic partnership offering AI-powered products and training programs to equip workers with essential AI-related skills.

Why it matters for us in HR: This collaboration highlights the importance of industry-academic partnerships for developing and scaling AI skills training. We must leverage such collaborations to provide accessible, impactful educational resources, addressing the skills gap proactively to prepare employees for future career challenges.
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10. AI in Interviews: Assistance or Cheating?

This Substack article dives into how candidates are increasingly using AI tools during job interviews—whether to practice, generate answers in real time, or even script entire conversations. It raises ethical questions around authenticity, fairness, and the evolving expectations of hiring processes.

Why it matters for us in HR: This shift forces us to rethink how we assess talent. Are we testing candidates or their AI tools?
We need to adapt our recruitment strategies, redefine evaluation criteria, and build processes that focus on deeper capabilities like judgment, learning agility, and real-world problem solving—skills AI can't fake.
Read More →