It was a busy afternoon in a Dubai coffee shop, where professionals with laptops and travelers with maps filled the air with quiet chatter.
At a corner table, Rashid, an HR Manager at a multinational firm, was enjoying his cappuccino. Next to him sat a stranger, focused on a tablet filled with lines of code.
“Tech guy?” Rashid asked with a smile.
The man looked up. “You guessed it. I’m Arjun, AI specialist.”
They exchanged introductions, and before long, Arjun leaned in with a statement that caught Rashid off guard.
“You know, Rashid, I don’t think HR will survive the next decade. AI will replace most jobs—recruitment, screening, maybe even interviews. Honestly, people should be worried.”
Rashid raised an eyebrow, taking a calm sip of coffee. “That’s quite a prediction. But do you really believe AI can replace everything people do in work and HR?”
Arjun replied quickly, “Why not? Machines can analyze CVs in seconds, run assessments, track productivity. Humans are too slow.”
Rashid leaned back in his chair, listening carefully. He had heard these arguments before. But instead of jumping in, he paused, letting the silence sit.
Arjun smirked. “Come on, Rashid. You don’t really think HR can compete with AI, do you?”
Rashid finally set his cup down. He smiled slightly, ready to respond.
👉 And this is where the conversation takes an unexpected turn…
Rashid looked Arjun straight in the eye. “You’re right that AI is fast. But speed doesn’t equal judgment. Sure, AI can shortlist resumes—but can it measure a candidate’s passion? Their potential? Or their cultural fit with a team?”
Arjun tilted his head. “Fair point. But eventually, won’t AI learn even that?”
“Let me tell you something,” Rashid said. “AI will absolutely automate the boring stuff—screening CVs, scheduling interviews, data entry. But that doesn’t erase HR. It frees us. Instead of chasing paperwork, HR leaders will focus on building strategy, engaging employees, and shaping leadership.”
He leaned forward, more animated now. “Think about this: Ten years ago, nobody imagined roles like Cloud Architect, Digital Wellbeing Officer, or even AI Specialist like you. Tomorrow we’ll see AI ethicists, human–machine collaboration managers, and HR professionals who specialize in tech-enabled employee experience.”
Arjun’s confident tone softened. “So… you’re saying AI is an upgrade, not a replacement?”
“Exactly,” Rashid nodded. “AI gives us the data, but humans make the decision. It’s not humans versus machines—it’s humans with machines. AI will handle the numbers. We’ll handle creativity, empathy, and leadership.”
Arjun smiled for the first time since the debate began. “You know what? I’ve been looking at this all wrong.”
Rashid lifted his cup. “The future of work isn’t about fear—it’s about partnership. Together, tech and humans will create a smarter, more human world.”
The two clinked their cups, and for a moment, the noise of the café faded into the background—leaving behind a quiet optimism about the future of work.
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