The Lattice Fiasco: What Happened and What to Learn
I am bringing you something hot off the press!
My goal is to keep you updated on the latest in the world at the intersection of People and AI.
The last 3 days, in my opinion, were BIG in defining the future of work. How, you ask?
I had been following this story way too closely and you will soon know why..
What Just Happened?
The company Lattice, a $3 billion software unicorn stirred up a significant public reaction with its innovative yet controversial concept.
“Today Lattice is making AI history. We will be the first to give digital workers official employee records in Lattice. Digital workers will be securely onboarded, trained, and assigned goals, performance metrics, appropriate systems access, and even a manager. Just as any person would be.”
Lattice CEO, Sarah Franklin
She also said, “We need to employ AI as responsibly as we employ people, and to empower everyone to thrive working together.”
Lattice proposed integrating AI bots into their organizational chart alongside human employees. This idea, represented visually, sparked widespread concern and debate.
The Backlash
Many people saw this move as a harbinger of a future where AI replaces human roles within companies, they went like “What?”
People were curious to know which HR Leaders were asking for this. Some went:
“Is this April 1st? This can’t be real, right?”
“Why the need for "secure onboarding?"
“We don’t even treat actual humans equitably yet, why are we adding AI to the “equality” equation??
“How would you rate their performance on a scale of 1 to 5?”
“That's enough for me today. I can't take any more absolutely banana choices from People and Leadership”
“What about headcount planning, what if these BOTs didn’t perform well, will their Managers be fired?”
The merging of AI with the human-centered field of people and culture raised alarms about a potential shift towards AI resources dominating workplaces. Critics argued that this vision undermines the human element of employment and dehumanizes the workforce.
It Worked!!
I’ll tell ya, the backlash was intense, that today, July 12, Lattice responded by retracting their AI integration concept. This decision has been celebrated by many as a victory for human workers over AI, with the sentiment that the bots have been metaphorically put to rest.
My Opinion
There's another perspective to consider. This retraction might be seen as merely a public relations maneuver. The image of the AI-inclusive org chart might have been taken down, but the discussions and developments behind closed doors likely continue. The concern remains that without transparency, these technological advancements and their implications for the workforce will proceed unchecked and unchallenged.
Now you may think, what’s in this for me?
Takeaways
Our work involves engaging with people, so it is crucial for us to understand human sentiments, their perspectives on AI, and their preferences for collaborating with AI.
Even though practically “AI agents” can behave like human workers, we would be well suited to treat them like a “Software asset” and put them on an “IT Asset management tool” rather than a Human Org Chart.
Collaborate with the IT team to gain insights into their AI solution development, including its intended use, launch strategies, and change management processes.
I hope that the next time this type of conversation arises in your company, you can reference examples like Lattice to illustrate the general public's sentiments on how AI should or should not be represented in company HR materials.