In a sweeping wave of technological advancement, IBM, a titan of American industry often dubbed ‘Big Blue’, stands ahead of the curve, enjoying a vast yield from the technological revolution of artificial intelligence (AI).
Over the last ten years, the technology behemoth has been relentless in its pursuit of AI development, creating a myriad of tools designed to innovate business operations, resulting in improved efficiency, precision, and productivity.
However, amidst the rapidly growing interest in AI, IBM’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Nickle LaMoreaux, shared an intriguing revelation that has piqued the interest of the industry and IBM employees. The chief officer disclosed the substantial progress the company has made in recent months, thanks to AI.
LaMoreaux unveiled how AI has freed employees from the drudgery of routine back-office administrative duties, enabling them to focus on complex tasks requiring a unique blend of human creativity and expertise.
The company’s human resources department, for example, has remarkably saved 12,000 hours over the past year and a half by automating processes that formerly necessitated time-consuming interactions between managers and employees.
However, a paradox emerges from the efficiency of AI; the same technology accelerating IBM’s mundane operations could potentially render specific jobs redundant. IBM declared a hiring freeze for back-office roles in May of last year, roles mainly constituting human resources tasks such as composing employment letters or managing employee transfers, tasks that AI can effortlessly execute. According to LaMoreaux, this strategic halt in hiring was intentionally planned.
IBM’s CEO, Arvind Krishna, in a significant speech earlier this year, championed the notion that AI enables employers to automate repetitive tasks, thus freeing their employees to contribute to more valuable work. Citing IBM’s own accomplishments, he highlighted the company’s AI application, which has drastically shrunk the number of HR professionals engaged in manual labor from an overwhelming 700 to a streamlined team of under 50.
Nonetheless, the implications of AI on the job market have raised eyebrows. A recent World Economic Forum report cautioned that AI could potentially disrupt around 40% of all work hours, with administrative and secretarial positions expected to face a swift downturn.
Therefore, the unsettling question persists: Will AI unavoidably trigger job cuts within IBM? The company’s leader earlier this year audaciously projected that AI could replace up to 30% of jobs within half a decade, affecting an estimated 7,800 positions throughout the company.
As IBM boldly harnesses AI’s transformative capabilities, the world watches with bated breath, intrigued by the intricate interplay between technological progress and human employment.
The future of work hangs in the balance, and IBM’s steadfast march towards automation stands as a compelling testament to the evolving contours of the job market.
