Expert Speaks on Artificial Intelligence and Human Resources: 8 Key Takeaways
by Nicole Bennett
In February 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a fascinating presentation hosted by my SHRM chapter in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Our guest speaker was Dr. Wes Fondren, a professor from Coastal Carolina University, who presented a very timely topic, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Resources.”
Dr. Fondren worked in the information technology field as Director of Technology for a media conglomerate before earning his doctorate. He primarily teaches Communication Theory, Communication & Technology, and Communication Research Methods. In addition to serving as Associate Dean and Associate Professor, he is also the Director of the Johnson Brown Center, which assists young adults that are unemployed or underemployed in developing workplace skills and training.
Our group was eager to hear his expert perspective, and he left us with some excellent insights, as you’ll see below.
8 Key Takeaways
1. There are 7 billion people on the planet, and 1 billion are using ChatGPT.
2. GPT in “Chat GPT,” stands for Generative Pretrained Transformant. It along with Gemini (Google’s version) and Copilot (Microsoft’s version) are probably the most well-known.
3. Of the three noted above, the only “walled” version is Microsoft’s Copilot. Unwalled means unprotected; anything that you upload or share can be further shared. Walled provides you with data/feedback from the system, but anything you put in does not get pulled in and shared.
In other words, if I upload my resume into ChatGPT (Open AI), which is unwalled, it isn’t protecting my name and address at the top of my resume. If I share an employee policy that I’ve drafted, it’s being used and could be shared in results for others. However, neither would be shared publicly when using the walled/protected program, Copilot.
4. Google has been training their program for 5 years. Meta has been training their program for 3 years.
5. AI programs do their best work if you tell them a story/give them a role. For example, it’s best to type something like the following to ChatGPT: “You are an HR Manager at a Manufacturing company in Horry County, SC. Write me a job description for a Plant Manager.” ChatGPT will share results of not only a suggested job description but also what to consider when looking for a Plant Manager in manufacturing, along with onboarding suggestions, etc.
6. AI programs work well when “steered.” If you don’t get exactly what you’re looking for the first time, steer it in another direction. You accomplish this by typing something like, “No, write it again but make it 200 words or less.” Or “No, write it again and require the person have more skills related to X.”
7. Additional ways you can use ChatGPT or other AI programs:
- You can type “help me make sense of this data” (in Excel), and it will create pivot tables and all. Note: ChatGPT is not great at math YET. It’s good at analysis but not logical math and calculations.
- AI can create marketing materials, orientation materials, and even videos.
8. Dr. Fondren argued that while some are worried about employees – and in his case students – using AI, he embraces it. He now expects MORE from his students – more work and higher level work. For example, instead of asking his students to make a PowerPoint deck, he’s asking them to make a video. He loves it when they use AI. They’re learning how to effectively use tools and resources that are going to be available to them on the job.
Likewise, since small tasks can be done by AI, we can expect employees to spend less time doing smaller, administrative type tasks, which will allow them time to do more and to spend more time on harder, higher-level work.
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