To finish off our AI blog series, our last conversation is with Elizabeth Mye, SVP of Global Human Resources (HR) and Sharlene Ayabe, Director of HR at Intermedia. It’s clear that the future of artificial intelligence holds boundless possibilities. Get a new perspective on AI’s role in revolutionizing HR and how these advancements are shaping the future.
The HR industry is crucial to a company. Has AI had an impact on company culture?
EM: We’re a tech company, and I think AI has been embraced and is a useful mechanism for our business and clients. It hasn’t had an impact that I can see on Intermedia’s culture other than to show that we’re being progressive. However, there’s a certain human factor when we interact with each other that AI may not entertain. There’s a dynamic between a human voice and portraying emotions through words compared to data and facts.
SA: As far as Intermedia culture, I don’t think it has an impact on company culture except that most of our workers are fully remote. We want to create that connection and camaraderie that is so essential to being successful at Intermedia. We also want to create opportunities and find ways to be more efficient and I think people embrace it well.
How will AI improve “work from anywhere” and remote working?
EM: I think having data and information at hand that can be synthesized and polled in a way that’s meaningful for the user helps establish connection. Remote work is challenging. You have to have discipline and high process definition. I think AI helps with all of that. However, it doesn’t replace the human factor and connection between managers and employees.Employee engagement and productivity plays a big role in a company and AI only goes so far.
What does the future of AI and the future of work look like for HR?
EM: There’s a lot of goodness for the future of AI in HR. Creating platforms that have complexity and filters help employees and managers in countless ways. I think the sophistication of AI and security aren’t there yet and there is a true threat if we don’t get our arms around those security aspects. It’s important to not just protect one’s identification but also the basis of humanity.
SA: There are still things that scare me about AI like how you can take a celebrity’s voice and have it say what you want. But in HR, nothing can replace that human value. We still need to find ways to create in-person experiences and it’s difficult because we’re spread out all over the world here at Intermedia.
By leveraging AI, how can organizations create workplaces where employees are productive and motivated?
EM: There are many applications that AI could be used for such as connecting with employees through poll surveys and algorithms that assist managers to be more astute. It could statistically help HR understand predictive analysis about how employees feel about their experiences. It would be motivating because we want to help employees not just in work but in life as well.
SA: We’re always trying to offer opportunities for connection globally and sometimes time zones are a big barrier. If we have information utilized on MyIntermedia there would be ways to discover what employees need digitally. The majority of our workers are in the U.S. but we need to make sure everyone feels included. So using our platforms from an AI perspective would have many benefits.
What advice do you have to give for World AI Day in terms of AI usage?
EM: AI should always be looked at as a way to enhance the human experience. I think we can’t lose sight of the fact that we’re still humans. It’s crucial to maintain that balance and understand the difference between enhancing the human experience and overtaking it.
Thank you for tuning into the final post in the series where we had the opportunity to speak with multiple Intermedia executives about AI in their respective departments. The integration of AI across various industries within a company represents a transformative leap forward. Embracing this technological shift with AI helps illuminate the start of the next era of digital advancement.
Elissa Luce
August 8, 2024
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