HOUSTON — Getting a pink slip is never a good feeling, and as big tech companies start making layoffs in the thousands, some workers are speculating that algorithms are making the call.
As the Washington Post reports the idea is not outlandish. That's because human resources managers have been using machine learning software for years to help make decisions.
The difference is artificial intelligence-driven technologies have for the most part been used to hire and promote workers up until this point. According to Forbes, the software screens resumes and looks for qualifications that match the job opening. It can analyze millions of data points, helping recommend who gets an interview, hired and promoted.
It's not a giant leap to believe that the same technology is being used to determine who should get laid off. In fact, a survey of 300 human resources leaders found 98% planned to use the technology to make layoff decisions this year.
While you would think AI would stick to things like job performance, experts said AI calculates things like flight risk as well. Basically, which workers are more likely to leave. Critics say removing humans from such critical analysis leaves companies at risk of making some bad decisions.