On 28 September, the CAIS Forum 2018 took place in Bochum on the topic “When Artificial Intelligence promotes or fires employees. How are algorithms changing the world of work? At the event, experts provided information on the use of artificial intelligence in recruiting, hiring and evaluating employees. In addition to hopes and fears, the discussion focused on how the use of artificial intelligence can be shaped.
CAIS Forum interactive: using the smartphone, the audience can participate in voting during the event and send open questions to the panel.
How the use of artificial intelligence and algorithms is changing the world of work was discussed by citizens and experts in the Jahrhunderthaus in Bochum on Friday evening (28 September 2018) at this year’s forum of the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS). Companies are already selecting applicants with the technical support of algorithms, chatbots are taking over initial information interviews and it is not uncommon for employees to be evaluated using Big Data.
Personnel decisions prepared by artificial intelligence through data analysis raise hopes and fears at the same time. At the CAIS forum, experts explained how procedures work that use artificial intelligence. With the help of algorithms used in human resources, they made it clear what criteria they use to make decisions, what data they draw on and what scenarios they forecast. Dr Daniel Mühlbauer, who develops corresponding systems himself with his company functionHR, pointed out that decisions should never be made by algorithms alone: “Work in companies should be improved through the combined use of human empathy and creativity and data science. In the end, however, it is always the HR department that decides.”
from left: Dr Daniel Mühlbauer, Michaela Evans, Prof. Dr Andreas Eckhardt
Matthias Spielkamp, co-founder of AlgorithmWatch, criticised the frequent lack of transparency in the use of algorithms and called for better control – for example, by public institutions or co-regulation in which experts agree on fundamental requirements. The Minister of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen, who opened the event as patron, emphasised how important it is not to see artificial intelligence as a superpower, but rather as a tool and to use it for the benefit of people. Professor Michael Baurmann, scientific director of CAIS, emphasised that digital innovations in the world of work are a challenge for corporate culture: “Science must help ensure that artificial intelligence can be embedded in this culture in an ethically responsible way, protecting and developing it and not endangering it.”
The following discussed with you
PROF. DR. ANDREAS ECKHARDT
// German Graduate School of Management and Law
DR. DANIEL MÜHLBAUER
// functionHR GmbH
MATTHIAS SPIELKAMP
// AlgorithmWatch
MICHAELA EVANS
// Institute for Work and Technology
Dr. URS PETER RUF
// Technology Advisory Service at the DGB NRW
THILO JAHN (moderator)
// WDR Westart and Deutschlandfunk Nova
Greetings
ISABEL PFEIFFER-POENSGEN
// Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
PROF. DR. MICHAEL BAURMANN
// Director of the Center for Advanced Internet Studies
Under the patronage of the Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen
SUPPORTED BY
