HRIntelligencer 1.21

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Topics: HR Intelligencer, HRExaminer, John Sumser, by John Sumser

Big Picture

Artificial intelligence could make brands obsolete. In this view, AI means the death of brands. Your refrigerator will issue the food that it knows that you want. It sounds a lot like a nightmarish stereotype of an overcontrolling mother. “Here, honey. This is perfect for you.” or, “I’m cold. Put your coat on.”

HR’s View

What the rise of the AI dull-bots means for humans. “the really important AI breakthroughs at work will be made by bright, empathetic, or highly skilled humans working alongside incredibly diligent but very boring machines.”
Industrial Robot Cost Decline. Investment research piece. What happens if the cost of industrial robots drops significantly in the next seven or eight years?

Execution

Why AI Companies Can’t Be Lean Startups: A Conversation with Matt Turck of FirstMark Capital. If you are thinking about working with an intelligent software vendor, read this interview. It’s about what it takes to be successful as an AI-ish business.
Data Visualization Software for Business Impact. Tips for building effective dashboards.

Tutorial

The 5 Levels of Meeting AI. Nice, if optimistic, timeline from Cisco describing the emergence of intelligent meeting assistants over the coming decade.
Google Cloud Job Discovery. Improving the candidate experience on your employment website.

Quote of the Week

“To use an example from the FirstMark portfolio, x.ai comes to mind. The more meetings their AI assistant schedules, the more data they get, and the smarter their algorithm becomes. The smarter the algorithm, the better the experience. The better the experience, the more likely people are to want to schedule meetings using x.ai, the more data the company captures, and so on. This flywheel is the data network effect.” – Why AI Companies Can’t Be Lean Startups: A Conversation with Matt Turck of FirstMark Capital.

About

Curate means a variety of things: from the work of vicar entrusted with the care of souls to that of an exhibit designer responsible for clarity and meaning. At the core, it means something about the importance of empathy in organization. HRIntelligencer is an update on the comings and goings in the Human Resource experiment with Artificial Intelligence, Digital Employees, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Big Data and all of that stuff. We present a few critical links with some explanation. The goal is to give you a way to surf the rapidly evolving field without drowning in information. We offer a timeless curation of the intersection of HR and the machines that serve it. We curate the emergence of Machine Led Decision Making in HR.

About the author

John Sumser

John Sumser is a principal analyst for HRExaminer, an independent analyst firm covering HR Technology and the intersection of people, tech, and work. John’s mix of experience over the course of his career gives him a broad and unique perspective on the industry. Like anyone trying to process a lot of information, he is two or three steps ahead in some areas and still learning about others. Sumser’s work includes deep research into the nooks and crannies of HR Technology to identify and explain rapidly evolving trends. Built on a foundation of engineering, design, and philosophy, John’s seeks to understand and advise clients on where their technology works best, for whom, and in what context. Each year, John examines the insides of hundreds of companies, their products, and ecosystems. He delivers vendor analysis by building the framework from which to deliver the critique. He is constantly connecting and making visible the front end of change. He can help you see the path of evolution and the risks on the journey. The HRExaminer is Sumser’s vehicle for understanding and explaining the inner workings of the industry. With three weekly podcasts, and written commentary, he covers emerging ideas, the state of the industry, and the executives who operate it.

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