Discussions about artificial intelligence and robotics often focus on their role as a tool, augmenting our existing skills and increasing our efficiency. Whether in movies, pop culture or according to your own Alexa, artificial intelligence and robotics are presented as an assistant that works for you.
As AI becomes wiser, we dream of the tasks it will soon perform on our behalf. With every robotic thumb created, we enjoy the vision of machines that meet our every need.
We have yet to fully understand that AI and robotics can be much more than that. One day they may very well be equal counterparts and even reflect our shortcomings back to us.
The integration of AI and robotics in the workplace is already revolutionizing team dynamics. What was once just a ‘team’ is quickly becoming one team consisting exclusively of people or a AI-enhanced team.
Teams consisting exclusively of people. Are you ready?
We conducted research aimed at examining the persistence of selfish biases in the face of objective performance feedback. As economic researchers, these insights are crucial for improving decision-making models that can (and do) inform policy and practice.
Ultimately, we wanted to help explain and address the ways in which people maintain an overly positive self-image, which affects risk-taking, financial decisions, career and professional choices, and team dynamics, among other things.
We specifically examined how these biases manifest in all-human teams, but also how that changes when workers are paired with robotics (a simple program with different performance opportunities).
We found that employees are more likely to twist their beliefs to feel better about themselves and their work when the actions of others are involved. In these scenarios, there is more room for them to see things in a way that makes them look good.
Our results also showed that these employees had little incentive to switch teammates, which could have helped them learn more about their true skills.
However, in a team with robotics, our results showed that performance feedback in this human-robot collaboration leads to more accurate evaluations of their own capabilities compared to human-only teams.
When we investigated why this is so, we found that individuals are less likely to distort their beliefs about their abilities when working with robotics. This reduction in overconfidence helps them make more accurate judgments about their own performance and that of their robot teammates, yielding more accurate evaluations.
Rev(AI)talized performance
Participants in our study were more likely to accurately revise their initial performance estimates when interacting with a robot. Integrating robotics into team environments can reduce the biased responses to objective performance feedback that we have shown to be present in all-human teams.
This greater objectivity allows us to make more informed decisions regarding the delegation of work tasks and individual roles, ultimately leading to more effective and efficient teams.
More broadly, our research highlights the importance of fostering a culture of openness to feedback.
In environments where feedback is valued, employees are more likely to engage critically and constructively in performance reviews. But with limited budgets, increased pressure and higher goals, this is often easier said than done.
Managers should also consider reshuffling teams periodically to better understand individual strengths and weaknesses.
Accurate performance reviews are critical for identifying areas where employees can improve and recognizing those who consistently perform well.
By encouraging more frequent and effective rescheduling of team members, managers can ensure the right people are working together while more easily identifying recurring issues.
AI work bestie?
How far are we until our favorite colleague is an AI? Or when teams are made up of AIs and managed by one human? With the rapid continued progress, this idea is not far off.
As companies invest more in AI, we may soon be working with AI colleagues much more often. Therefore, it is critical to understand the long-term effects of human-robot collaboration on team dynamics and performance.
For companies, this means embracing AI not only as a tool for automation, but also as a valuable partner in fostering a more productive work environment where employees can learn more from the performance feedback they receive.
Indeed, compared to working with a human partner, the perceived reliability of AI makes it more difficult to pinpoint blame elsewhere, increasing the likelihood of self-reflection when poor outcomes occur.
AI will change the way teams work, making human-AI teams an important part of the future workplace.
The day when AIs become essential team members is coming; it is not just an assistant; it can be a conduit for more accurate judgments, less bias, and better performance. It is a colleague who is available 24/7, processes enormous amounts of data, brings out your objective side and does not let you down…
Are you ready to welcome AI as your next work bestie?
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 the Schulich School of Business, York University, and Dr. Zahra Murad is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance at the University of Portsmouth.
At Euronews we believe that all opinions matter. Contact us at view@euronews.com to send pitches or submissions and join the conversation.