Artificial intelligence is set to transform the HR profession significantly in the coming years, according to Lucia Iliescu, Country HR Manager at Continental Romania, who spoke during the Workplace of the Future conference organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest.
Iliescu said that while AI is currently being used mainly for repetitive tasks such as CV screening and report generation, HR professionals will increasingly have to deal with employees who rely on AI-generated information that is not always accurate.
“I believe HR will undergo a major transformation over the next few years. Today, we use AI to select CVs or generate reports – highly repetitive tasks. In the future, however, HR professionals will have to deal with people who use AI and often arrive convinced they know better than the experts,” Iliescu said.
She noted that employees frequently bring information obtained from AI tools, particularly on topics such as payroll calculations and taxation, only to discover that the information is inaccurate.
“Sometimes AI systems are not properly trained or pull information from unreliable sources. As a result, employees come with incorrect information. The work that once involved explaining a basic calculation now doubles or triples because the person leaves unconvinced and returns multiple times seeking clarification,” she explained.
According to Iliescu, HR professionals will need to develop stronger communication skills and patience to work effectively with employees who increasingly rely on artificial intelligence.
“An AI will always validate the user and say, ‘Yes, you are right, let me explain again.’ HR professionals will need to train themselves to have at least the same level of patience when working with people who are experimenting with AI,” she said.
She also expressed concerns about the impact of AI on critical thinking and basic knowledge among younger generations entering the workforce.
“We may see generations coming through school without placing enough emphasis on mathematics, percentages, unit conversions, critical thinking, or common sense. Those of us who choose this profession will need to build resilience and develop the skills necessary to continue supporting organizations effectively,” Iliescu said.
The HR executive also highlighted what she described as a growing trend of employees relying on AI-generated interpretations of Romanian labor legislation.
“Many people believe that AI knows everything about Romanian legislation. As topics such as discrimination and harassment gain more visibility, employees increasingly consider themselves discriminated against or harassed because an AI tool tells them that any task not explicitly written in their job description is abusive,” she said.
Iliescu argued that organizations will need to adapt by providing clearer expectations and responsibilities, while HR teams must be prepared to handle a growing number of misunderstandings.
“We either need to communicate our expectations much more clearly, automate certain tasks, or build significantly more resilience within HR teams. These challenges are only beginning,” she added.
Discussing workplace culture and return-to-office initiatives, Iliescu cautioned against overemphasizing entertainment and team-building activities at the expense of accountability.
“It is great that we are thinking about team-building activities at the office. However, too much team building can blur the sense of responsibility that comes with a job. We need to maintain a balance. Employees should feel that when they come to the office, they are responsible for their work. If the entire day revolves around games and entertainment, it becomes much harder to focus on the importance of the job itself,” she concluded.