The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Capital

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Introduction: Reflecting on recent developments in Artificial Technology (AI), I personally am interested in the bigger picture impact of AI on human capital and its potential to shape the future of work and organizations. Consecutively, AI can have significant implications for the labor market, the economy, and society itself. While these technologies promise to spur the growth of firms, there is also growing concern that they may displace workers, alter industry trajectories, and reshape organizations in ways that are not yet fully understood. My thesis project aims to make a meaningful contribution to the academic literature by providing new insights into the consequences of digital innovations in the realm of AI technology on human capital within businesses and its development. Specifically, my research aims to answer the following questions: when and where do AI and digitalization substitute or complement skilled labor within organizations? What are their effects on the value that human capital can create in companies, and consequently, on the value that individuals can capture through wages?Literature: As artificial intelligence drives technology and business innovation, businesses are transforming their processes, operations, and structures. Thus, it is relevant to understand the potential changes within the firms related to AI technology to prepare the society for these potential profound changes. This research area promises interesting insights, as AI can have conflicting influences on a firm's human capital developments through the two conflicting effects: automation and augmentation. Sub-areas of AI effects, e.g., need for reskilling and upskilling, are being investigated. However, future research recommendations indicate that there is a lack of insights into the change scope and its boundaries. Methodology: The goal is to follow a mixed-method research design, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. To build the theoretical background of the thesis, a literature review needs to be carried out first. The review should consider topics like artificial intelligence management, human capital development and innovation strategy, but is not limited to them. To ensure the systematic nature of the analysis, established specifications serve as methodological guidelines for the theoretical part. My goal is to perform large-scale and meaningful data analysis as backbone of my research. The data needs to be collected from multiple sources including large-scale datasets on individuals and firms that have implemented AI and digitalization technologies. The quantitative data will be analyzed using econometric methods to achieve my research goal. Furthermore, I consider extended qualitative case studies to be suitable for modifying or supplementing existing research as I have already gained experience in this discipline during my Master thesis.Conclusion: The findings of this project will contribute to the academic literature and provide practical insights for policymakers and managers. Overall, this research proposal aims to provide a deeper understanding of the interactions between AI, digitalization and human capital in firms and its implications for the future. The results of this study will provide practical insights for policymakers and managers on how to effectively manage the impact of AI and digitalization on human capital in firms.