Tom Catnach, Head of Product (and resident AI nerd) at Mintago explains how HR managers can get started with artificial intelligence – without feeling overwhelmed
When we speak to HR managers these days – and we speak to HR managers a lot – the conversation tends to go one of two ways:
- I’ve been reading about how artificial intelligence can make my job easier, but I don’t know where to start, or;
- My boss has been reading about how artificial intelligence can make my job easier, but I still don’t know where to start.
HR managers know AI could help them with typically laborious tasks like benefits admin and employee comms, but they’re overwhelmed by conflicting news stories and don’t have time to keep up with all the latest developments.
Sound familiar?
Mintago’s Head of Product has three tips for HR managers who want to explore AI
The good news is Tom Catnach, Head of Product at Mintago, was invited to join a panel discussion last week all about AI in HR. He shared clear, practical advice for HR managers who want to know how artificial intelligence can make them more effective in their roles.
These are his top three tips from the session:
1. Start with the problem, not the hype
Does anyone remember the internet of things? What about crypto? Or NFTs? What even were NFTS? (Something to do with fungus, I think?)
Those were all tech fads from the last 15 years, and even though they were over-hyped, they all eventually found their useful place in the world. The same goes for AI.
Tom’s advice to anyone getting started with using AI to make them more productive is to start with a hypothesis. What problem is this going to solve for me or my organisation?
“I’m yet to meet a working person who doesn’t know of a way their job could be made better, more interesting, or more efficient,” he says. “I think that’s where you start. You start with the problem and you work your way forward.”
2. Keep the human in the loop
By now, the dangers and limitations of AI are fairly well known. But Tom says one of the biggest issues often gets overlooked.
“It’s called Sloppy Pasta,” he says. “It’s one of my favourite terms. It’s when somebody just prompts an AI, copies it and sends it on to somebody else. And that does cultural damage, because that can feel quite insulting.”
Tom recommends checking out the work of academic and researcher Cal Newport.
“He talks a lot about the ‘Read, Think, Write’ loop. Just making sure we’re staying human on these things.”
3. Educate yourself with free resources
AI’s capabilities are changing all the time. One of the best ways to know what the technology can or can’t do for you is to increase your general understanding.
“IBM has a really good video on YouTube about understanding large language models,” Tom recommends. “It’s about five minutes long. It’s a really worthwhile watch because once you understand what's actually happening with these models, you can start to make more informed decisions about what they may or may not be able to do.”
He also recommends signing up for free newsletters – like TLDR AI, for staying up to date on the latest developments in AI.
Not enough time. Not enough resources. Not enough engagement.
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