Lattice, an HR database firm, treats "AI workers" like humans because we're already just numbers.
There's been a lot of nonsense hype-man linguistic marketing garbage pumped out around AI tools and AI-generated content. But I can't imagine anyone was expecting — let alone actually asking for — someone to come out and say "What if we subjected 'Digital Workers' to the exact same bureaucratic protocols and employee review systems that we use for normal human workers?"
But that's exactly what Lattice, a company that produces HR platforms, has done:
Today Lattice is making AI history. We will be the first to give digital workers official employee records in Lattice. Digital workers will be securely onboarded, trained, and assigned goals, performance metrics, appropriate systems access, and even a manager. Just as any person would be.
We need to employ AI as responsibly as we employ people, and to empower everyone to thrive working together. We must navigate the rise of the digital worker with transparency, accountability, and the success of people at the center.
On one hand: yes, of course, the use of AI tools in the workplace should absolutely require human oversight at all times. On the other hand: tools are not workers — and you're also giving up the game by falsely equating the two. Is this an effort to humanize AI, or is it effort to de-humanize your employees? Why not both!
As writer Ed Zitron so succinctly put it:
When you use ChatGPT or any of the other generative AI bots that Franklin listed, you're not using…them, you're accessing a tool that generates stuff.
Why would you add ChatGPT to your org chart? What does that give you? What does it mean to be ChatGPT's manager, or ChatGPT's direct report, or for ChatGPT to be considered an "employee"? This would be like adding Salesforce, or Gmail, or Asana as an employee, because these are tools that, uh, do stuff in the organization.
Does this also mean that ChatGPT can get paid? And if so, can it opt into healthcare coverage, or join a union?
The whole thing is nonsense. But I'm sure some CEO out there is going to eat it up all the same.
Today, Lattice Makes History and Leads the Way in Responsible Employment of AI [Sarah Franklin / Lattice]
Put Up or Shut Up [Ed Zitron / Where's Your Ed At]
Previously:
• Human Resource Machine will teach you to program and it will be adorable
• Uber HR chief resigns in racism scandal
• IBM boasts it will replace thousands of workers with AI
