Human First

AI Will Replace Us All. Game Over?

But what if AI could make our jobs and businesses better instead?

AI is as disruptive a technology as we’ve ever seen before.

As disruptive as the printing press. The industrial revolution. Electricity. The internal combustion engine. Even the internet.

It will change everything.

As a (recovering) software engineer, I love technology.

But I don’t love the idea of a dystopian future.

We need to consider how we approach AI in our businesses and give serious thought to the most effective and ethical way to integrate AI into our work.

For me, the optimal approach is human-first AI deployment.

That’s a mouthful. What does that mean?

Increasing Human Potential

AI is an extraordinary tool. It’s capable of automating repetitive tasks, boosting productivity, and driving innovation in ways we’re only beginning to grasp.

But here’s the crucial point – it’s a tool that works best alongside us, not instead of us.

The alarmist headlines about AI leading to massive layoffs and a jobless future?

In my view, that’s not just pessimistic; it’s a very real potential future.

But AI could be used to empower employees and make their work lives more fulfilling.

Automating the Mundane

There are many tedious, repetitive tasks that your employees dread.

The ones that drain their energy and enthusiasm.

Imagine if we could eliminate those tasks from their workday.

That’s exactly what human-first AI deployment aims to do.

Consider the relatively monotonous task of quality control inspections in a manufacturing setting.

Traditionally, employees might spend hours examining products for defects, a process that’s not only time-consuming but also prone to human error due to fatigue.

By implementing AI-powered visual inspection systems, we can automate this process. The AI can rapidly and accurately identify defects, freeing up employees to focus on more engaging tasks like innovation in product design or refining manufacturing techniques.

Employee Happiness

These tools could be used to  improve employee happiness and morale.

When employees are freed from the drudgery of repetitive tasks, they can invest their time and energy into work that feels meaningful and impactful. This shift can transform the entire work experience, leading to a more motivated and enthusiastic workforce.

For example, in a manufacturing plant, instead of spending hours manually entering data from production runs, employees could use that time to analyse the data for insights, collaborate on process improvements, or engage in skill-development activities.

By offloading those mundane, repetitive tasks to AI, we give our teams the opportunity to focus on aspects of their jobs that they actually like doing.

Revolutionary, eh?

Imagine the boost in job satisfaction when employees can dedicate more time to solving interesting and complex problems, brainstorming new ideas, or collaborating on “Skunkworks” projects that could be the next big thing like Twitter, Gmail, or Craigslist.

Those were all developed as side projects:

By deploying AI in this way, you get increased employee engagement, better job satisfaction, improved retention rates, a more vibrant workplace culture, and the potential for incredible innovation.

It’s the definition of win-win.

Rethinking Work

Let’s face a crucial reality here: AI-driven automation is going to free up a lot of time. There’s no denying this fact.

But here’s where we can take a radically different approach – one that benefits both the company and its employees.

Instead of viewing this as an opportunity for layoffs to cut costs, let’s reimagine how we structure work itself.

What if we used this freed-up time to move to a 4-day or even 3-day work week?

It might sound counterintuitive, but research has shown that reduced work hours can actually increase productivity even further.

Companies like Unilever and Microsoft have seen massive increases in productivity with 4-day work weeks.

Unilever’s trial in New Zealand resulted in a 20% increase in productivity. That was quite impressive, but Microsoft Japan experimented with a 4-day work week and saw productivity jump by 40%!

These are real-world examples of how rethinking work can yield impressive results.

The goal here is NOT to maintain productivity as a flat line while increasing profits through staff reductions.

There’s a whole different way to approach this:

1. Keep your talented staff
2. Equip them with amazing AI tools
3. Use the freed-up time for innovation and creativity
4. Increase revenues by boosting innovation and outputs

This approach creates a virtuous cycle. Happier, less stressed employees with more time for rest and personal pursuits come back to work more energised and creative. They have the mental space to innovate, to think deeply about complex problems, and to come up with solutions that can drive your business forward.

By retaining your workforce and giving them better working conditions and free time, you’re building loyalty and attracting top talent.

Skilled employees increasingly value work-life balance, so your company becomes highly desirable as a workplace.

AI is not just about doing the same things faster. It’s about doing things differently, and potentially doing different things altogether.

By embracing this mindset, we can use AI to transform our businesses into a more productive, innovative, and humane place to work.

Implementing Human-First AI

To help you get started with a human-first approach to AI deployment, here’s a practical action plan:

1. Assess Current Processes
   • Conduct a company-wide survey to identify repetitive, time-consuming tasks that employees find tedious.
   • Analyse workflows to pinpoint areas where AI could have the most significant impact.
   • Start with the mundane, tedious tasks that employees hate. Here’s how to do this.
2. Educate and Communicate
   • Hold town halls or department meetings to discuss AI integration plans.
   • Address concerns openly and emphasise how AI will augment, not replace, human roles.
   • Share success stories from other companies that have implemented human-first AI strategies.
3. Start Small and Pilot
   • Choose one department or process for an initial AI pilot project.
   • Set clear goals and metrics for the pilot, including employee satisfaction and productivity improvements.
   • Gather feedback throughout the pilot to refine your approach.
4. Invest in Employee Training
   • Develop an AI literacy programme to help employees understand AI capabilities and limitations.
   • Provide training on how to work effectively alongside AI tools.
   • Offer upskilling opportunities in areas that complement AI, such as data analysis or strategic thinking.
5. Redesign Roles and Workflows
   • Work with team leads to reimagine job roles, incorporating AI for mundane tasks.
   • Create new positions that focus on AI oversight and optimisation.
   • Encourage employees to propose innovative ways to use AI in their roles.
6. Measure and Iterate
   • Regularly assess the impact of AI on employee satisfaction, productivity, and business outcomes.
   • Conduct periodic surveys to gauge employee sentiment about AI integration.
   • Be prepared to adjust your strategy based on feedback and results.
7. Develop a Culture of Continuous Learning
   • Encourage employees to stay updated on AI advancements in your industry.
   • Create channels for sharing AI-related insights and best practices across the organisation.
   • Recognise and reward employees who successfully integrate AI into their work.
8. Prioritise Ethical Considerations
   • Establish an AI ethics committee to oversee deployment and usage.
   • Develop clear guidelines for responsible AI use that align with your company values.
   • Regularly audit AI systems for bias and unintended consequences.
9. Scale Thoughtfully
   • Once your pilot is successful, gradually expand AI integration to other departments.
   • Share learnings and best practices from early adopters with the rest of the organisation.
   • Maintain a balance between AI adoption and preserving human-centric aspects of your workplace.
10. Celebrate and Share Successes
    • Highlight teams and individuals who have successfully integrated AI to improve their work.
    • Share your company’s AI journey externally to attract like-minded talent and partners.

The goal of a human-first AI strategy is to enhance your employees’ capabilities and job satisfaction while driving business growth. By following this action plan, you can ensure that your AI integration journey puts people at the centre, creating a more productive, innovative, and enjoyable workplace for everyone.

Conclusion

AI is here to stay. It’s up to us to shape it in a way that benefits both our businesses and our employees. By adopting a human-first approach to AI deployment, we can harness the power of this incredible technology while staying true to the values that make our businesses truly great – creativity, empathy, and human connection.

Let’s use AI to build a future where technology and humanity work hand in hand, creating workplaces that are more productive, more innovative, and importantly, more enjoyable for everyone. The future of work isn’t about humans vs. AI; it’s about humans and AI, working together to achieve amazing things while ensuring our employees are happier and more fulfilled in their roles.

What’s your take on human-first AI deployment? I’d love to hear from you – email me at alastair @ this domain!