As we see artificial intelligence continue to advance, one of the questions top of mind for many HR teams is, "Will AI replace human resources professionals?" The short answer is no, or at least not for quite a while - but AI will make our jobs significantly easier.

AI is advanced in many ways with new models being trained on millions of data points- and, while this is very impressive, the human brain has over 100 billion neurons that can do upwards of 1000 connections per neuron. If you multiply those two, that means that the human brain can make connections on potentially 100 trillion data points.

To process that amount of data, an AI would need a lot of computational power and time. So while AI can assist with automating many of the repetitive tasks that drain resources and eat up team bandwidth, it is not nearly at the level of fully replacing human beings in HR.

How is AI used in Human Resources:

The best use cases right now for AI in HR are known as "generative AI." Generative AI is a type of AI that's used to create something new - such as a written article or resume. This technology is already being utilized in many HR functions, including recruitment, employee development, and even diversity and inclusion efforts.

For example, generative AI can be used to write job descriptions that are optimized for attracting top talent while also being inclusive of diverse candidates. It can also be used to analyze resumes at a much faster rate, saving recruiters time and allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. Once candidates appear for interviews, interview intelligence can run in the background making sure that the candidate is a good fit for the role and that the interviewer conducts the interview inclusively.

Generative AI in HR is a relatively new category. This type of AI focuses on mimicking or creating new content based on a set of data inputs. In the HR world, this could include performance data, employee feedback, and even job descriptions. This technology can then generate content such as personalized training modules for employees, tailored coaching plans for managers, or even diversity and inclusion reports for leadership.

Ultimately, generative AI is helping HR to streamline processes and improve efficiency within fast-moving teams. It allows for quicker decision-making, more targeted actions, and a greater understanding of workforce trends and needs.

Examples Of AI in HR

In the first section we talked about the future of AI in HR, now let's get into some relevant examples you have access to right now to streamline your workflow and make your hiring processes more efficient and effective.

Examples of AI in HR:

1. Applicant Tracking Software: Lever is a top-tier applicant tracking system that uses AI to streamline recruitment processes. It allows HR professionals to manage all applicant data in one place, efficiently sort through resumes, and track candidates throughout the hiring process. Its AI capabilities enhance productivity and help in discovering the best talent for the organization.

2. AI Candidate Sourcing : HireEZ is an AI-powered recruitment tool that automates sourcing tasks, thus saving recruitment time for recruiters. It uses machine learning algorithms to source candidates from various job boards and social media platforms and ranks these potential hires based on their suitability for the job.

3. Digital Assistants: Paradox.ai offers a digital assistant, known as Olivia, that leverages AI to handle administrative tasks in the HR department. This includes scheduling interviews, answering candidate queries, and managing employee data. This significantly reduces the manual workload of HR professionals and allows them to concentrate on strategic aspects of HR.

4. Interview Intelligence Software: Pillar provides AI-driven interview intelligence software that aids HR teams in making informed hiring decisions. It uses AI to analyze interview responses, providing valuable insights about the candidate's skills, personality, and suitability for the role. This technology helps in conducting fair, unbiased, and efficient interviews.

5. Onboarding: BambooHR is an HR software that uses AI to enhance employee onboarding experiences. It provides a personalized, streamlined process, ensuring each new hire has all the information and resources they need from day one. Its automation capabilities make the onboarding process more efficient and contribute to increased employee engagement and retention.

These are a few of the recruitment tools you can use to transform your hiring process and that's just the tip of the iceberg. AI isn't just transforming recruitment; it's also revolutionizing other aspects of HR and employee management.

1. Employee Engagement: Peakon utilizes AI to analyze employee feedback in real-time and offers actionable insights to boost employee engagement and performance. It can identify areas for improvement, track engagement trends, and even predict factors that might lead to employee attrition.

2. Performance Management: Betterworks is an AI-powered performance management tool. Its engine can analyze performance data to provide insights, recommendations, and continuous performance reviews. This enables managers to effectively track, measure, and enhance their team's efficiency and productivity.

3. Learning & Development: Docebo's AI-powered Learning Platform helps HR teams create personalized learning experiences for their employees. It uses AI to curate relevant learning content based on personal and company goals, ensuring that each employee's learning journey aligns with their career progression and the company's objectives.

4. Payroll & Benefits: Zenefits offers an AI-driven platform that simplifies payroll and benefits management. It automates complex tasks like tax calculations and benefits administration, ensuring compliance and accuracy while saving HR teams valuable time.

5. Wellbeing: Headspace for Work is an AI-powered tool that promotes employee wellbeing. It offers guided meditations, stress management exercises, and sleep aids, all of which can contribute to improved employee mental health and productivity.

By integrating AI tools like these into your HR practices, you can streamline operations, improve accuracy, and foster a more engaged and efficient workforce. A few of these tools in your tech stack will revolutionize your workflow.

AI In HR Examples

As you can see AI in HR examples span much further than one would initially think. Artificial Intelligence in HR includes tools for every step of your employee lifecycle. The next challenge you have to overcome with HR AI tools is linking them all together so that they integrate, share data, and communicate properly. A few companies help in accomplishing that integration and I urge you to check them out if you haven't yet. 

1. Zapier: Zapier connects your favorite apps like Gmail, Google Drive, Slack, Asana, Trello, and many more together so they can work together seamlessly.

2. Make (formerly Integromat): Make is a data automation platform that connects apps and services for automating manual tasks across your entire business.

3. Workato: Workato's powerful integration platform helps connect any combination of cloud applications, databases, or APIs to automate complex workflows without coding.

4. IFTTT: IFTTT is the world's leading connectivity platform. They help over 18 million people and 125,000 businesses automate repetitive tasks. "If this then that" (IFTTT) is a phrase that describes the way their applets work.

5. MuleSoft: MuleSoft's Anypoint Platform integrates any application, data, or device with API-led connectivity. It uses AI to automate and speed up integration processes for maximum efficiency.

Now if you're just using these tools for recruitment, you won't need outside tools. Lever, HireEz, Pillar, Paradox, and BambooHR all integrate and communicate with one another to build one streamlined hiring ecosystem.

AI Interview Tools

For this last section, let's turn our attention back to the recruitment side, and in particular interviews. Interviewing is a vital part of the employee assessment process and getting it wrong can have serious consequences. Getting it right, however, can have a powerful impact on your team.

AI interview tools span from automating the needs of large organizations and small ones, from interview scheduling software to AI sourcing and digital assistants - there's a tool to fit your needs- and they're usually quite specific. For instance, if you were hiring software engineers, you'd want good coding assessment tools and interview intelligence software with a library of questions for software engineers. The benefits of these AI tools mean that HR can systemize a hiring process for more repeatable results.

Because of automation and data-driven thinking AI tools for human resources provide, they're expected to grow more than 17% year-over-year for the next decade. This means the future of AI in HR is promising, but you don't have to wait until then to adopt these tools. Leveraging Artificial intelligence in your HR can be as simple as using chatbots to offer candidates a space to ask questions and get answers, and have interview intelligence running in the background of interviews to make sure you're equitably hiring the right people.

With these incredible advancements, HR can focus more on strategic initiatives and employee development while leaving tedious tasks to AI. If used properly, the impact will be better hires and better work culture.

If you'd like to see how Pillar's AI-powered software can help your team hire better for less, book your demo to chat with someone from our team today.