Jarred Consulting

Last week, leaders from around the world met at the spiritual home of computing at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire. Gingerly heralded as a success, guard rails were agreed to and intentions set. What we learned is that different nations are moving at different speeds, the stakes are high and not even the key players are certain of what the future holds. 28 countries signed up to the Bletchley declaration to work together to ensure safety standards and to stop AI systems from turning on humanity. If AI’s impact on human well-being can bring leaders thousands of miles across the world to agree to the rules of play, then shouldn’t it be something that we all turn our attention to?

AI has serious implications for your ESG

In a conversation with Rishi Sunak, Elon Musk said that there will ‘come a point where no job is needed’ and he named AI as the ‘most disruptive force in history.’ ESG is a company’s level of focus on its environmental, social and governance concerns. An organisation’s reputation, honest actions and track record can affect its ability to hire and keep its talent, gain a foothold in the market and attract funding. Against the backdrop of Musk’s comments, it’s time to get intentional. AI is a powerful tool but if you’ve used it passively up until now know that your customers, investors and potential employees may be watching. Will your streamlining agenda through AI come at the expense of the human talent you need, for example? Something to think about if potential employees have an eye on what you’re automating and who you’re laying off. Will they join you only to be next?

A few things to think about

If the machines are doing some of the work, what will this mean for your approach to diversity, equality and inclusion? Is AI open to bias? Are we honestly going to pass on the benefits of mechanising tasks to free our people up for more creative, innovative and connective roles? Or even a 4-day week? What do you want to ring-fence for humans? Think beyond the bottom line to the implications of removing people from roles where the value of interfacing with a real human is realised only when it’s lost.

The future is in our hands

AI is picking up the pace so we don’t have a moment to lose. If you haven’t read our recent article AI: 7 questions every leader should be asking right now, please click on the link for tips on how you can have an impact. For more on how to put ESG at the heart of your people proposition (and why it matters), click here. Have a great day.