Finding a Place for Humans in an AI-Driven Assessment and Learning Space

Using artificial intelligence (AI) in businesses can create trillions of dollars for the global economy. The trust in this technology and the adoption rate among organizations worldwide in their business processes are rising. In the middle of these changes, one team that is heavily affected is the building block of every organization, the human resources (HR) department.

From the name itself, human resources is a team of humans dedicated to human capital. Yet to respond to the demand for increased efficiency and better strategy, technology is the key to improving the processes from talent acquisition to employee retention. If the trend heads towards AI, is there still space for humans in human resources?

A Closer Look at AI Adoption

While there is a strong potential for AI, global adoption lags. McKinsey infers that developed countries will be able to adjust to this faster due to higher wages that create better economic feasibility to adopt automation–but are they willing to?

To understand how AI has changed organizations and can further transform them, we can take a closer look at Germany.

Affirming the McKinsey report about better AI adoption in developed countries, Deloitte considers Germany as a country that has “largely adopted leading practices associated with the strongest AI outcomes.”

Despite the AI adoption maturity, however, Germany constantly ranks below the global benchmarks. The AI market is progressing swiftly, with an overwhelming 94% of global business leaders from various industries recognizing its importance for the next five years, compared to the 87% response from German companies. Furthermore, while 76% of organizations worldwide state that they will increase their investment in AI, this is true for only 70% of German companies.

Deloitte attributes these slightly lower results versus global benchmarks to Germany’s challenges of providing business value, choosing the right AI technologies, and insufficient funding for AI technologies. In addition, the fear of technology taking over jobs persists.

These concerns are not necessarily unique to Germany. Regardless of location, these challenges hold for other organizations, albeit in varying degrees. For instance, the fear of losing jobs and the changing roles in companies given the rapid advancement of technology is a conversation that we are all too familiar with, especially during the rise of automation years ago.

Understanding AI in Recruitment and Employee Training

Truly, AI is revolutionizing the way we operate in organizations. However, amid the advancements in AI-driven solutions, it is crucial to rethink the role of human interaction in this landscape.

An IBM report provides insight into how AI reshapes businesses, especially HR. As of 2022, HR professionals occupy the 9th spot among the top 10 users of AI in an organization, with the top users predominantly in technology professions such as IT professionals, data engineers, developers, and data scientists. It is among the few non-tech-related departments on the list.

Further delving into how organizations use AI, 45% say that they use it to improve recruiting and human resources. Additionally, 50% use it to increase employee learning and training.

The results are unsurprising given the technology required to keep businesses going by employing and retaining talent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post-pandemic, organizations have begun harnessing digital transformation for screening applicants and creating an improved upskilling experience for employees.

Finding the Place for Human Interaction in the AI Landscape

For the past years, businesses have opened their doors to geographically-dispersed teams giving rise to remote work. Global recruitment has become prevalent. In the process, there is a need to ensure communication and collaboration among diverse employees. Because of this, one of the best practices of the recruitment process is to include a language proficiency assessment.

HR teams rely on AI for assessment for a faster and easier hiring process. But remember that AI, no matter how powerful, is at a low level compared to its potential.

AI, in its infancy currently, requires careful use. That is why it is imperative not to eliminate human judgment in the screening process. For example, the power of AI adaptive placement exams might be in evaluating grammar and comprehension skills. But communication abilities, one of the top soft skills global companies are looking for, is something that only humans can effectively assess.

In terms of learning, adaptive learning systems utilize AI to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses, allowing for personalized and tailored content delivery. Automated assessment tools streamline grading processes, reducing administrative burden for L&D and training managers. Undoubtedly, AI strengthens training deployment. Nevertheless, looking at what drives engagement in L&D programs, there is still no substitute for human interaction.

While technology enables personalized learning, evident in eLearning platforms nowadays, it is through human interaction like coaching and social learning that knowledge is applied and maximized.

Human connection fosters emotional engagement, promotes critical thinking, and nurtures creativity. Human trainers, whether face-to-face or online, go beyond delivering content. They inspire, motivate, and mentor learners.

Human interactions provide a supportive environment, enabling learners to ask questions, engage in discussions, and collaborate with peers. Human trainers possess the expertise to identify non-verbal cues, emotions, and individual learning styles, which can profoundly impact learners’ growth and development.

Keeping the Human in Human Resources

When it comes to AI and humans in L&D and assessment, it is ultimately the latter that unlocks the former’s potential. HR professionals and leaders pave the way for the right balance between technology and human interaction in training and recruitment.

goFLUENT, the leading language solutions provider of companies worldwide, anchors its products and services on the belief that human interaction is essential in learning and assessment.

Even with Corporate Language Academy, a cutting-edge AI-powered eLearning platform that personalizes the learning experience and recommends training content depending on the learner’s language level, position, and interest, goFLUENT still values experiential and interactive learning. That is why it is complemented with offerings of trainer-led online classes for small groups and one-on-one lessons.

Recently, with the launch of goFLUENT’s Language Assessment, true to its DNA, the result is a platform that ensures fast and seamless testing of language skills through adaptive AI technology while removing bias and ensuring the accuracy of CEFR-level evaluation through human assessment.

goFLUENT understands that the adoption of AI is inevitable. Embracing these technologies in processes is what will bring organizations to greater heights. But as companies transition, humans should remain the biggest investment and asset of companies.

In AI-driven recruitment and L&D space, humans remain the key to creating lasting impact. And there will always be space for them. After all, human resources will always be for your human capital.

Written for OEB Global 2023 by the team at goFLUENT.