The Risks of AI in HR (And Why We Love It)

Author: Rian Schmidt

12/1/2024

AI is everywhere in the workplace today, including in human resources. Tools like Humanaiz are making it easier to manage talent, create job descriptions, handle performance reviews, and much more. But while AI can save time and help HR professionals do their jobs better, it’s not a magic solution. Relying on AI too much—especially for tasks that require creativity or judgment—can lead to problems, like low-quality, generic content that misses the mark or includes outright errors ("hallucinations").

The key to using AI in HR effectively is to make sure it supports the people, not replaces them. When used wisely, tools like Humanaiz can boost productivity and free up time for more important work. But when people trust AI to do it all, they risk losing the personal touch that makes the HR function valuable.

The Problem with Letting AI Take Over

One of the biggest temptations with AI is to let it do all the heavy lifting. Why spend time writing a job description or an employee communication when AI can generate it in seconds? At first glance, this seems like a great deal—until you really look at what these large language models produce.

Often, AI-generated content is bland and generic. For example, a job description might check all the basic boxes (there are qualifications, responsibilities, etc.), but it won’t reflect the unique nature of your organization or the specific needs of the role.

Even worse, AI tools can sometimes make things up. These hallucinations might add details that aren’t accurate or include qualifications that don’t exist. This can cause confusion, waste time, or even open your company up to legal risks.

The same issue can show up in other areas, like employee policies or training materials. If the AI gets something wrong and no one catches it, the mistake can lead to bigger problems down the line. AI doesn’t understand the context—it just follows patterns. It sounds right, but it's not.

Where AI Really Shines And Why We Use It

That said, AI and LLMs are amazing tools when used for the right tasks. For example, Humanaiz uses AI to handle time-consuming chores like creating the first draft of a job description or organizing feedback for performance reviews. Instead of starting from scratch, HR professionals can use these drafts as a jumping-off point, saving hours of work.

AI can also process huge amounts of data quickly. This is super helpful for things like analyzing survey results or spotting trends in employee performance. These are tasks a person could do on their own, but AI can give managers and HR teams insights almost immediately that would otherwise take weeks and be slow and painful to uncover.

The Right Way to Use AI in HR

The real use of AI isn’t to replace humans but to work alongside them as a handy tool. We use AI to help managers and HR teams speed up repetitive tasks and generate ideas. But we also give the people the tools to refine and customize the results. This way, the final output still reflects the company’s values and unique style.

Here’s how to use AI, even Humanaiz tools, effectively for HR:

1. Let AI Handle the Tedious Stuff
   AI is great for breaking through productivity blocks. Use it to draft job descriptions, summarize performance reviews, or analyze engagement surveys. But don’t just copy and paste what the AI creates—review it and make sure it’s accurate and meaningful.

2. Always Double-Check AI Outputs
   AI can make mistakes. Whether it’s a small error or a major oversight, it’s up to humans to catch them. Don’t assume AI is always right—think of it as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your judgment.

3. Focus on Personalization
   AI tools like Humanaiz are designed to help HR teams work faster, but people still want communication that feels personal. Take the time to edit AI-generated content so it fits your company’s voice and connects with employees on a human level.

4. Use AI for Insights, Not Decisions
   AI can help you see patterns and trends, but it’s not the right tool for making decisions about people. Humans understand context, emotions, and fairness in a way AI never will.

Why People Are Still Key to HR

At its best, AI is a partner to HR professionals, not a replacement. Tools like Humanaiz combine the speed and data-crunching power of AI with the creativity and judgment of humans. This partnership is what makes AI so powerful—it can take care of the busywork so that HR teams can focus on what really matters: building great relationships, supporting employees, and helping people grow.

The biggest mistake companies can make is to think AI can do it all. When HR teams lean too much on AI, the results can feel impersonal and even alienating. But when they use AI as a tool—something to speed up their work and spark new ideas—the results are better for everyone. After all, people will always want to work with other people, and that’s what makes human resources so important.