Every now and then, we’ll hear about some new technology that can be useful to our work in HR and L&D. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has come up recently because of its promise to be a part of achieving business outcomes, driving greater efficiency and optimization. And as practitioners, we always wonder how it can impact our work and how these technologies apply in our context. For example, AI is now being used to address common challenges in Recruitment such as sourcing candidates. AI can now be used to alert the right people with the right skill sets to available jobs prior to their posting.
Artificial intelligence is an area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans. One example of it is gaining popularity as it is being used in different sectors. It is called ChatGPT. ChatGPT is a Large Language Model trained by OpenAI to generate human-like text in a conversational style. As of writing, it has been used and tested for various purposes and users have varying comments/ feedback on this new tech.
How does ChatGPT work?
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer follow up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.
Here’s a sample conversation with ChatGPT.
How do people use it?
Summary of sample use case came from: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/5-amazing-things-with-chatgpt/
1. Composing an entire song
A user shared his experience on YouTube of using ChatGPT to make music, rolling through several iterations as the AI created chord progressions, drum tracks, melodies, and lyrics. With a significant amount of help from the expert, Ramzoid managed to shape it into a nice pop tune.
2. Write an entire book in one day
A user asked ChatGPT to write a 16-chapter textbook on financial literacy. While it can’t do that in a single response, the AI did give a table of contents. Each chapter was then broken down by ChatGPT into a series of topics and each topic expanded into paragraphs. With a series of interactive prompts, the user was able to assemble the text of a 300-page, 16-chapter book.
3. Create 3D animation with ChatGPT
A user asked ChatGPT to write the code for a marble bouncing on the floor, using the popular Javascript library “three.js,”. The code that ChatGPT provided was flawed. After a follow-up question, requesting more than one bounce, ChatGPT guided the user to make adjustments to simulate the effect of gravity, providing multiple bounces.
How can it be used in HR/ L&D?
I've only done a little bit of research about ChatGBT but by reading through how it works and the different use cases, I've listed below some personal assumptions on how it can be used by HR/ L&D Professionals.
1. Policy Writing
Coming up with new policies that are relevant to the changing environment usually take a lot of time from HR Managers. In some cases, it can also be costly if external consultants will be hired to draft one. What if HR Managers can have a conversation with ChatGPT, prompt it to provide contents for a new company policy? While many data are needed before a policy is written, the actual policy writing activity could be hastened by having a tool like ChatGPT. I think this is worth a try.
2. Employee Support
Similar technologies are being used already by some companies like using Chatbots to respond to employee questions or concerns. Although responses coming from Chatbots usually sound very scripted. I think this how ChatGPT can stand out. By having access to a tool where employee questions and concerns can be answered to promptly in a more human-tone way.
3. Content Writing
Imagine how much time is being allotted by trainers to content writing. This activity in training alone takes time- from doing research and translating them into digestible content for a training program. What if you can type the topics you want to include in your training and ChatGPT gives you a comprehensive response outlining all relevant contents? If this works, then trainers would have more time for more value adding tasks like checking in with the learners or evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
4. eLearning Scriptwriting and visuals
Similar to the activity above, writing scripts and finding appropriate visuals for eLearning courses take a massive amount of time from designers/ developers. Imagine using a tool that provides content in a conversational tone which we can use for our eLearning courses? Not to mention how it can provide you with relevant visual assets for your course. I think this will be a time saver and a very helpful tool to make eLearning development turn around time shorter.
For now, these are just assumptions that this new technology will provide opportunities to make work life a bit easier for us in HR/ L&D. As with opportunities, there will be challenges that go with it. But, we can just be hopeful that these innovations will also help us become more effective and excellent in our jobs.
What other opportunities you see in using ChatGPT in HR/ L&D?
What other opportunities you see in using ChatGPT in HR/ L&D?
- Enhancing candidate experience
- Upskilling employees
- Easier HR Transactions
- Improving employee wellness