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As a writer, I’ve always held a certain bias against generative AI tools and often refused to use them for my work whether it be within academic writing, content writing or creative writing. Then a few friends, colleagues and even family members of mine pointed out that AI can be used for more than just paraphrasing, copy-pasting and most importantly, as a substitute for our jobs! 

This got me thinking more on the subject and after doing some research I was pleasantly surprised by the impact that AI has had with its myriad of functions. Turns out instead of using it as a shortcut, “commanding” it to provide us with information and finish work, it can be used as a useful tool to engage in smart work. In fact, I’ve heard many people call AI their omnipresent colleague. Don’t get me wrong, I am not here to promote AI. Quite the opposite actually. 

As I have recently discovered, to the best of my knowledge AI is in fact not out to get our jobs but can be used as a “friend” rather than a competitor to help within our work.

Narrating an anecdote from my personal experience of how AI saved me quite a bit of time. After recently completing an assignment for my Strategic HRM module, I wanted to count the words constituting the intext citation within paragraphs and I was told that I can just ask ChatGPT how many words there are! 

Instead of undergoing the tedious task of counting every citation within my 4,000 word paper, I simply asked ChatGPT and it gave me the exact breakup of the words. I believe by providing the right sensitisation towards AI and abolishing the fear of replacement within people, it can do wonders.

Reflecting back on several HR functions I have performed, I noticed that I too have used AI to automate a lot of operational tasks so that my full attention can be concentrated on the people! 

For example, in my previous organisation, we used a tool containing AI features to capture employee experience and feedback data. When used in the right way, AI can contribute in a beneficial manner. I believe that none of what we do as HR professionals can be permanently replaced by AI because at the end of the day what we provide our employees with a human touch, cannot be fulfilled by AI. What it does is lend a helping hand to make our jobs a little easier. 

There is a lot that organisations can do to eliminate the fear around AI replacing jobs so that people are not afraid to use it in the right way. Either employees are raving about its features or afraid of its impact, there is no in between. But that is a whole other topic of discussion. 

Encouraging safe, ethical use of AI and providing the right training around AI tools will help employees leverage it to support their skills and feel comfortable with its existence in the workplace. Moreover, as HR leaders, while we are creating strategies regarding other organisational aspects, it would certainly be useful to integrate AI strategies into this. Who knows, when aligned with business goals we might unlock our next major breakthrough! 

Along with this sort of awareness, I believe communication with employees is the key so that they do not hold animosity against AI in fear of their jobs being taken. 

Again, reiterating that I am not promoting AI in any way and I am sure everyone has their own experience and methods of using it. Just wanted to share my thoughts and would love to know what people’s opinions on this are, given that it has been an ambivalent topic for quite some time now. 

 

Fascinating post, ​@damayantichowdhury09!

Your point on eliminating the fear around AI is a very good one. The more I learn about how using this technology makes my job more interesting, the better. Of course, I’m also conscious of the detrimental effects it can have on people’s livelihoods and really just the nature of one’s work. 

I’m excited to read some perspectives from the rest of the community!

​@kterhaar ​@HannahPorteous-Butler ​@Naturally Mindful ​@HRHappiness ​@andra.enache ​@Kim Stringer ​@JHBEM ​@xtine08 ​@brittbosma ​@rstambolieva ​@Edda van der Ende ​@SalC ​@jwilliams79 

Fascinating post, ​@damayantichowdhury09!

Your point on eliminating the fear around AI is a very good one. The more I learn about how using this technology makes my job more interesting, the better. Of course, I’m also conscious of the detrimental effects it can have on people’s livelihoods and really just the nature of one’s work. 

I’m excited to read some perspectives from the rest of the community!

​@kterhaar ​@HannahPorteous-Butler ​@Naturally Mindful ​@HRHappiness ​@andra.enache ​@Kim Stringer ​@JHBEM ​@xtine08 ​@brittbosma ​@rstambolieva ​@Edda van der Ende ​@SalC ​@jwilliams79 

Completely agree, I have certainly undergone many stages of learning with this technology myself! Looking forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts on the same. 

Really appreciated your take on this, ​@damayantichowdhury09! It's honest and relatable. A lot of people - not only in HR - have had that initial hesitation with AI, but like you said, it’s less about replacement and more about working smarter when it’s used the right way.

I’ve seen firsthand how AI can take care of the repetitive stuff so we can focus more on what really matters: People. But there are still some important things to watch out for—especially in HR. Tools used in hiring or performance management need to be carefully monitored to avoid bias. And with all the sensitive data we handle, privacy and trust have to stay front and center.

Also, it’s not just about learning how to use AI—it’s about knowing how to question it too. Helping teams build that critical thinking around AI will be key going forward.

I liked your point about AI being an “omnipresent colleague” - spot on. If we treat it like a support system, not a threat, and give people the right training and mindset, it can be a real asset.

Thanks for sparking the conversation! 😊

I’m certainly embracing it more although i do feel l need training and better understanding of it.

I like ​@SabbuSchreiber ‘s point too: “it’s not just about learning how to use AI—it’s about knowing how to question it too. Helping teams build that critical thinking around AI will be key going forward.” 

I know for some ND-ers, like me, there are some amazing tools that can help and make things more efficient as a way of working. I also just discogvered a tool that creates a presentation in seconds - surely anyone would find that helpful! 

Really appreciated your take on this, ​@damayantichowdhury09! It's honest and relatable. A lot of people - not only in HR - have had that initial hesitation with AI, but like you said, it’s less about replacement and more about working smarter when it’s used the right way.

I’ve seen firsthand how AI can take care of the repetitive stuff so we can focus more on what really matters: People. But there are still some important things to watch out for—especially in HR. Tools used in hiring or performance management need to be carefully monitored to avoid bias. And with all the sensitive data we handle, privacy and trust have to stay front and center.

Also, it’s not just about learning how to use AI—it’s about knowing how to question it too. Helping teams build that critical thinking around AI will be key going forward.

I liked your point about AI being an “omnipresent colleague” - spot on. If we treat it like a support system, not a threat, and give people the right training and mindset, it can be a real asset.

Thanks for sparking the conversation! 😊

Yes, I absolutely agree with your point about the biases that it can have during the hiring process or performance management. Moreover, critical thinking is also extremely important to spread awareness about so that people can generally just have an idea of where AI’s use is best suited. 

Thanks for providing your important insights. I still have a lot to learn about the use and convenience of AI tools myself so really appreciate the information from your end. :) 

Thank you, ​@damayantichowdhury09 for letting us into your experience of this new technological tool and how it has helped you to accomplish a task quicker than the traditional approach. I can understand any hard pressed professional’s commitment to exploring how AI can make life a little easier and please know that I am in no way judging users harshly. However, I live the privilege that I am not required to complete a many day’s work in one by a competitive and unkind world of work, who would replace me, without a blink of a guilty eye, with someone quicker and more open to the use of technological solutions. I chose that privilege by retiring myself from employee status, in favour of working less, earning less and following my own moral compass more. One that informs in non-cognitive terms that there will be a high price to pay for replacing this human mind, its creative individuality, its limitations in speed and its flawed beauty. I value the human touch and sometime will choose to pay more for it, live with the consequence of human frailty. Reading material generated by the human mind inspires and excites me, because I can relate to it, as if it were in the narrator’s shoes. That feeling and value stays with me and builds on a sense of  human connectedness, that helps me to feel well and alive.

​@damayantichowdhury09, I think I’ll always be someone who raves about AI and its potential. Of course, there are real risks - like bias, unfairness, challenges around ethical situations, concerns of privacy and data security. For now, I believe a human eye should always verify AI’s work and oversee decision-making, to make sure the outcomes are accurate, fair, and suitable for the need.

Still, whether we’re hesitant or not, I think it’s clear that AI is only going to become more integrated into our lives, and we need to be prepared to adapt to that change. A friend of a friend mentioned recently that she doesn’t like using AI for writing because she wants to keep her mind sharp. Much like you pointed out, ​@Naturally Mindful, there’s real value and even beauty in doing things the human way. In some jobs, AI might not have much impact, but in others, not using the tools that are available and other are using could actually put you at a disadvantage. 

I’ve noticed that AI is definitely having an impact on how my brain works. I probably don’t retain information in the same way since I started relying on AI for certain tasks - just like how I shot my orientation skills once I started using google maps for everything. But honestly, I’m not sure that those tasks are something me or my brain will miss.

Personally, I use AI to review emails and documentation, helping me improve grammar and tone - especially on days when I’m feeling moody or annoyed, making message the come across less harsh. I use it to take meeting minutes so I can actually engage in the conversation, instead of trying to do both and end up doing neither very well. I even automate tasks by build tools in excel using Google script - and I have no clue about coding! - to be even more efficient with my time. 

I don’t see AI as replacing people, but rather as replacing the manual, repetitive tasks that many people (at the moment) need to do. When used well, AI can unlock our potential, creativity and innovation by removing the tedious tasks, such as admin, that bring nothing to our personal development, professional growth or lead to recognition. I’ve never ever been praised for “great admin work”, even when it’s been 80% of my responsibilities and I’ve done it well. Doing the same task for the 500th time doesn’t help you grow you as a person or prove your value. Most often, it’s only visible when you make a mistake.

For me, AI is a tool that enables creativity and innovation by freeing up my time and brainpower, so that I can focus on people, strategy, projects and the fun work that truly matters and develops me as a person.

Thank you, ​@damayantichowdhury09 for letting us into your experience of this new technological tool and how it has helped you to accomplish a task quicker than the traditional approach. I can understand any hard pressed professional’s commitment to exploring how AI can make life a little easier and please know that I am in no way judging users harshly. However, I live the privilege that I am not required to complete a many day’s work in one by a competitive and unkind world of work, who would replace me, without a blink of a guilty eye, with someone quicker and more open to the use of technological solutions. I chose that privilege by retiring myself from employee status, in favour of working less, earning less and following my own moral compass more. One that informs in non-cognitive terms that there will be a high price to pay for replacing this human mind, its creative individuality, its limitations in speed and its flawed beauty. I value the human touch and sometime will choose to pay more for it, live with the consequence of human frailty. Reading material generated by the human mind inspires and excites me, because I can relate to it, as if it were in the narrator’s shoes. That feeling and value stays with me and builds on a sense of  human connectedness, that helps me to feel well and alive.

I completely understand and agree David. That is the primary point I was trying to make that the authentic human touch is something that AI can never truly replace. Moreover, there is nothing like the sense of connection that you feel whilst reading the similar experience of another human being. This resonates with me completely.

Thank you for sharing. :) 

​@damayantichowdhury09, I think I’ll always be someone who raves about AI and its potential. Of course, there are real risks - like bias, unfairness, challenges around ethical situations, concerns of privacy and data security. For now, I believe a human eye should always verify AI’s work and oversee decision-making, to make sure the outcomes are accurate, fair, and suitable for the need.

Still, whether we’re hesitant or not, I think it’s clear that AI is only going to become more integrated into our lives, and we need to be prepared to adapt to that change. A friend of a friend mentioned recently that she doesn’t like using AI for writing because she wants to keep her mind sharp. Much like you pointed out, ​@Naturally Mindful, there’s real value and even beauty in doing things the human way. In some jobs, AI might not have much impact, but in others, not using the tools that are available and other are using could actually put you at a disadvantage. 

I’ve noticed that AI is definitely having an impact on how my brain works. I probably don’t retain information in the same way since I started relying on AI for certain tasks - just like how I shot my orientation skills once I started using google maps for everything. But honestly, I’m not sure that those tasks are something me or my brain will miss.

Personally, I use AI to review emails and documentation, helping me improve grammar and tone - especially on days when I’m feeling moody or annoyed, making message the come across less harsh. I use it to take meeting minutes so I can actually engage in the conversation, instead of trying to do both and end up doing neither very well. I even automate tasks by build tools in excel using Google script - and I have no clue about coding! - to be even more efficient with my time. 

I don’t see AI as replacing people, but rather as replacing the manual, repetitive tasks that many people (at the moment) need to do. When used well, AI can unlock our potential, creativity and innovation by removing the tedious tasks, such as admin, that bring nothing to our personal development, professional growth or lead to recognition. I’ve never ever been praised for “great admin work”, even when it’s been 80% of my responsibilities and I’ve done it well. Doing the same task for the 500th time doesn’t help you grow you as a person or prove your value. Most often, it’s only visible when you make a mistake.

For me, AI is a tool that enables creativity and innovation by freeing up my time and brainpower, so that I can focus on people, strategy, projects and the fun work that truly matters and develops me as a person.

True Nina, like I said, AI has certainly managed to save me a lot of time during certain instances. And absolutely, the point I made about “smart work” is what AI’s integration should primarily fulfil. Its great to hear the ways in which AI has made your life easier and helped you focus on the things that you find more important and provide you with development. Thanks very much for sharing. :) 

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