Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence for Human Resources ...

1 Human -Centred Artificial Intelligence for Human Resources : A Toolkit for Human Resources ProfessionalsTOOLKITDECEMBER 2021 ContentsIntroduction1 The big The many uses of AI in What AI is and how it works2 Getting Forming an assessment team and planning for the long Determining the purpose of adopting the AI-based Delving into the core elements of the Assessing the risk level of a tool3 Key Data privacy and Transparency and explainability4 Implementation and buy-in5 Ongoing maintenance and monitoringTool Assessment ChecklistPlanning

2 ChecklistAcknowledgementsEndnotes3457121 3 14151617182122252729495558 Images: Getty Images 2021 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval This document is published by the World Economic Forum as a contribution to a project, insight area or interaction. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed herein are a result of a collaborative process facilitated and endorsed by the World Economic Forum but whose results do not necessarily represent the views of the World Economic Forum, nor the entirety of its Members, Partners or other Artificial Intelligence for Human Resources : A Toolkit for Human Resources Professionals2 IntroductionArtificial Intelligence (AI) has gained considerable attention and excitement in recent years.

3 Broadly defined as the effort to program computers to take on Human -like cognitive processes, the recent prominence of AI is closely tied to the success of machine learning (ML), an approach to developing AI systems using real-world examples. The ML approach is applicable to a surprisingly wide variety of use cases; therefore, there is a proliferation of AI-based tools in every sector of the economy and of field of Human Resources (HR) is no exception. Indeed, by one count there are over 250 different commercial AI-based HR tools These tools offer a lot of promise and excitement.

4 Beyond their ability to process information quickly, these tools have the potential to improve HR processes, leading to better decisions and outcomes. Their variety reflects the creativity and innovation spurred by recent advancements in AI, as their creators seek to both tackle long-standing challenges in HR and expand capacities into new realms. At the same time, this proliferation and variety of tools creates a confusing landscape to navigate, especially because most HR professionals do not feel that they have the technical expertise required to evaluate these tools.

5 The first goal of this toolkit, therefore, is to equip HR professionals with a basic understanding of AI to assist them in their efforts to assess AI-based second goal of the toolkit is to provide guidance on the responsible and ethical use of AI in HR. Awareness of the ethical challenges that AI systems can pose has been growing in recent years, concerns that are particularly heightened in the HR context. There is increasing consensus globally about broad principles for the ethical use of AI, including privacy, fairness, transparency and explainability, but only limited guidance on how to operationalize these principles.

6 This toolkit is part of a broader effort by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to help organizations put responsible AI principles into final goal of the toolkit is to help organizations use AI-based HR tools effectively. Many organizations find their investments in AI fall short of their expectations because the tools are adopted for the wrong reasons, they do not anticipate the work necessary to integrate the tool, or because they did not gain sufficient buy-in from the people who were supposed to use it or are affected by it.

7 The toolkit and especially the accompanying checklists, therefore, focus on assessing AI-based products and on the organizational practices needed to support their use. This toolkit is a collaborative effort bringing together HR professionals and professional associations, start-ups, larger companies, employment lawyers, AI ethicists, data scientists, and academics from a range of disciplines. They share a common desire to promote the responsible use of AI in HR, yet vary in their views and concerns. At one end of the spectrum are individuals who are very concerned about the potential downsides of using AI in HR.

8 At the other end are individuals who, while recognizing the need to implement AI responsibly, strongly believe in the potential of AI-based tools to improve HR outcomes. A tension in using AI in HR is the need to acknowledge the shortcomings of HR practices as they are currently performed, whether by humans or by non-AI systems such as keyword filters and assessment tests. AI systems tend to face greater scrutiny than these other methods. While some community members felt that this scrutiny was necessary, others felt that it ignored similar or potentially larger problems with current practices.

9 The toolkit aims to present these different perspectives, combating the misperception that AI algorithms are intrinsically objective and fair, while at the same time highlighting the need to recognize the flaws in current practices. The toolkit consists of three components. The guide provides an overview of AI in HR, how AI works, and key considerations for the responsible adoption and monitoring of AI systems. Two questionnaires that parallel each section of the guide accompany it. The Tool Assessment Checklist focuses on the decision to adopt a specific AI-based HR tool.

10 It includes both questions to ask the vendor (or internal creator of the tool) as well as questions for the organization to consider for the successful use of the tool. The Planning Checklist focuses on organizational priorities, policies and procedures. Its aim is to assist organizations in thinking strategically about how they want to use AI in HR and to put into place systems to support its responsible and effective perspectives on AI in HRThe structure of the toolkit At one end of the spectrum are individuals who are very concerned about the potential downsides of using AI in HR.