Clara Shih speaks with Ethan Mollick, a Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author known for his work on AI and innovation. They discuss transforming HR into an innovation driver, emphasizing its essential role in the AI age. Mollick highlights how traditional HR can operate like R&D, and he shares insights from teaching students to embrace AI in their work. They navigate the balance of AI's capabilities, the historical context of its rise, and practical strategies for organizations to encourage creativity and experimentation.
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Quick takeaways
Organizations must reimagine HR as the new R&D to foster innovation and employee creativity in the age of AI.
Embracing AI requires a cultural shift that encourages experimentation and reduces fear, empowering employees to explore new technologies confidently.
Deep dives
The Role of HR as R&D
HR is increasingly viewed as the new research and development (R&D) department within organizations. Successful companies are those that encourage experimentation and innovation among their employees rather than stifling creativity with overly restrictive policies. This shift recognizes the importance of leveraging human potential alongside artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance organizational learning and efficiency. Organizations that not only allow but incentivize the sharing of innovative ideas from employees will thrive, as opposed to those with hidden or secretive practices stifling progress.
Embracing AI in Education
Rather than banning AI tools in educational settings, innovative educators are exploring how to integrate these systems into their teaching methodologies. Experiments with AI have showcased transformative potential in learning environments, encouraging students to leverage AI as an aid rather than a crutch. For example, students have been tasked with automating tasks relating to their jobs, revealing that engagement with AI can enhance productivity significantly. This hands-on approach aims to redefine educational experiences by focusing on collaboration between AI and students, ultimately equipping them with necessary skills for the workforce.
Transformational Potential of AI Across Industries
AI is positioned as a general-purpose technology that has the ability to alter operations across various sectors by assisting human workers. Organizations are advised to engage extensively with AI systems to determine their suitability for specific tasks, recognizing the potential for AI to outperform existing human capabilities in some areas. Companies need to encourage experimentation with AI to harness its benefits while also understanding its limitations. This paradigm shift emphasizes the need to adapt to technological advancements to avoid being rendered obsolete in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Fostering a Positive Organizational Mindset
For companies to successfully integrate AI, there must be a cultural shift that prioritizes experimentation and reduces fear surrounding the technology. Employees should feel safe to explore AI capabilities without fear of negative repercussions, promoting a cooperative and innovative atmosphere. Encouraging knowledge sharing and rewarding employees for their inventive use of AI tools can lead to substantial organizational growth and insight. Therefore, organizations are urged to redefine their approaches to incentivization and risk management in order to stay competitive and relevant in the era of AI.
Join Clara Shih as she explores the challenges, opportunities, and paths forward for organizations to embrace AI with Ethan Mollick, Wharton professor and author of the New York Times-bestselling book Co-intelligence. They discuss recasting traditional corporate human resources departments as the new R&D, why AI risks shouldn't be an excuse for inaction, and what he's learned from encouraging students in his class at UPenn to use AI for their work.
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