The Evolving Role of AI and Robotics in the Workplace

Discussions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics often revolve around their function as mere tools, designed to enhance human capabilities and boost efficiency. Whether portrayed in movies, pop culture, or through personal assistants like Alexa, AI and robotics are typically depicted as helpful aides, working alongside humans.

However, the potential of AI and robotics goes beyond mere assistance. They have the capacity to evolve into equal counterparts, possibly even reflecting human flaws back at us. The integration of AI and robotics in work environments is already reshaping team dynamics, transitioning traditional teams into either ‘human-only teams’ or ‘AI-enhanced teams’.

Human-Only Teams: Embracing Change

A recent study aimed to explore the persistence of self-serving bias in the face of objective performance feedback, crucial for refining decision-making models that influence policies and practices. The research delved into the impact of biases within human-only teams and how introducing robotics into the mix altered these dynamics.

• Human-only teams tend to exhibit biases when evaluating performance feedback, often skewing assessments to maintain positive self-views.
• Conversely, when working alongside robotics, individuals were less likely to distort their self-assessments, leading to more accurate evaluations of their own and their robotic teammates’ performance.

Enhanced Performance Through Human-Robot Collaboration

Participants in the study demonstrated a greater tendency to revise their performance estimates accurately when collaborating with robots. This integration of robotics in team environments proved to mitigate biased responses to performance feedback, fostering objectivity and improving decision-making processes within teams.

Embracing a culture of openness to feedback is essential for fostering constructive engagement with performance assessments. By encouraging more frequent reshuffling of team members, managers can identify individual strengths and weaknesses more effectively, leading to improved team performance.

The Future of Work: Human-AI Collaboration

As AI continues to advance rapidly, the concept of AI colleagues in the workplace is becoming increasingly plausible. Businesses are encouraged to view AI not just as a tool for automation but as a valuable partner in enhancing productivity and fostering a learning environment.

Human-AI teams are envisioned as a significant component of the future workplace, where AI’s reliability can lead to more accurate assessments, reduced biases, and enhanced overall performance. The integration of AI as a constant and reliable work companion signifies a shift towards more objective decision-making and improved team dynamics.

Dr. Leonie Gerhards is a Lecturer in Economics at King’s Business School, King’s College London.

Dr. Alexander Coutts is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Schulich School of Business, York University.

Dr. Zahra Murad is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at the University of Portsmouth.

At Euronews, we believe all views matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and be part of the conversation.