PwC: CEOs must show that humans are their priority — not technology

Olusola Adewole, an associate director at PwC Nigeria, has asked the chief executive officers (CEOs) to show that humans are their priority “in an age where artificial intelligence is threatening to replace human skills”.

The multinational auditing firm said a survey it carried out showed that only 39% of organisation leaders are considering the impact of artificial intelligence on future skills needs.

“PwC’s 20th CEO Survey highlights that 52% of CEOs say they’re exploring the benefits of humans and machines working together, and 39% are considering the impact of Artificial Intelligence on future skills needs. This a delicate balancing act for CEOs in every sector and region,” the report said.

Adewole said CEOs must protect and nurture the employee- employer relationship.

“Getting people strategy right in a world where humans and machines work alongside each other will be the biggest challenge leaders will ever face. No one can be sure how the world of work will evolve, so organisations must prepare for any scenario – and if the events of 2016 have taught us anything, it’s that no scenario can be dismissed as too unlikely,” he said.

“The workplace model is fundamentally changing and navigating the changes is fraught with unintended consequences – as trailblazers for the new working structures built around the emerging gig economy have found out.

“CEOs have an enormous challenge ahead of them. It’s the role of business leaders to protect and nurture the employee-employer relationship throughout this turbulent time, without it, organisations will struggle to find and keep the people they need. The challenge for CEOs is to show that in the technological age, humans are their priority.”

According to the report, 52% of CEOs are exploring the benefits of humans and machines working together.

“Some organisations will need fewer people, but others will need more. We will see a rebalancing of human capital as organisations adjust,” he said.

“Success in an automated world will mean people and machines working together, rather than one replacing the other.However, 77% of CEOs say they see the availability of key skills as the biggest business threat.

“Today’d demand skills are exclusively human capabilities – adaptability, problem solving, creativity and leadership. Software cannot imitate passion, character or collaborative spirit.

“Seventy-eight percent of CEOs are actively taking steps to improve their access to talent and attract the people they need by changing their people strategy to reflect the skills and employment structure they need for the future.

“Prepare your HR function for the recruitment challenge – as our 20th CEO survey highlights, people and skills are essential in the machine age and competition for good talent is intense.”