As artificial intelligence (AI) advances at breakneck speed, there is a growing concern about the possibility of it replacing humans in almost every task. However, recent research sheds light on AI’s capacity to train and augment human performance, specifically in complex strategic interactions.
To understand how AI can train employees and improve performance, it is worth looking to the past. In our latest study we explored how AI transformed the domain of chess. Chess computers have been at the frontier of AI and exemplify two fundamental aspects: complexity and the capability to mimic human thought processes. Our study revealed that chess computers served as artificial training partners and led to a significant improvement in player performance.
To examine how AI helps people improve, we leveraged the staggered diffusion of chess computers in Western Europe and the former Soviet Union. Chess computers became widely available for players in Western countries from 1977 onwards. In contrast, for geopolitical reasons, chess computers remained practically unavailable for players in the Soviet Union until the late 1980s.
AI has the ability to democratise access to training and enable individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop their skills and excel in their respective fields
We analysed the performance of more than 20,000 chess players across half a million tournament games. Our analysis illustrated that having access to chess computers accelerated learning and gave players a competitive advantage. Chess computers helped players improve by serving as a substitute for scarce human training partners.
We found that disadvantaged players with inferior skills benefitted more from chess computers. The extent to which people benefited varied due to two key factors. First, the AI system had to surpass the player's skill level to provide effective training. Otherwise, the player would be able to anticipate the AI's moves, limiting the training value. A useful analogy is how non-native speakers benefit more from a spelling and grammar checker than native speakers.
Second, the difference in benefits can be attributed to the lack of access to human training partners. In such cases, the chess computer served as an essential substitute. This underscores the potential of AI as a substitute for human training partners, particularly in situations where resources and opportunities are scarce.
AI has the ability to democratise access to training and enable individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop their skills and excel in their respective fields. For instance, in industries with a high volume of customer complaints, training customer service representatives to handle various scenarios can be a challenging task, especially when training needs to be conducted at scale. Traditional methods like role-playing exercises can be expensive, time-consuming and difficult to replicate realistically. By generating simulated complaint scenarios, AI systems could help with individualised training en masse.
During conversations with a leading facilities management company in France, an executive emphasised the financial challenges associated with training a significant number of employees to handle customer interactions. By leveraging AI-powered training platforms, such companies can provide consistent and scalable training experiences to their employees, enabling them to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge. This not only reduces the financial burden but also ensures that a larger workforce can benefit from extensive training.
However, AI is not a perfect substitute for human training partners. Our research findings highlighted that players who trained with chess computers were less proficient at recognising and capitalising on human errors, as AI does not exhibit the same vulnerabilities or make the same types of mistakes as human opponents.
This is particularly important when it comes to learning strategic interactions such as negotiation or competition. Chess, with its interactive nature, large number of scenarios and the difficulty of credit assignment, is often considered a prime illustration of strategic interaction.
Much like playing chess with another human, engaging in live negotiations, competitive games or role-playing exercises with human counterparts allows individuals to develop their ability to recognise and exploit human blunders, adapt to changing circumstances and effectively respond to interpersonal dynamics.
Our findings suggest that a balanced approach to training is recommended. Combining AI-powered training with opportunities for real-world practice and interactions with human partners can provide a more comprehensive learning experience.
While AI-powered training platforms provide accessible and scalable learning opportunities, relying solely on AI for training has its limitations. To excel in strategic interactions, it is crucial to harness the strengths of both AI and human intelligence. Even though the complete replacement of humans by AI is not imminent, we may soon be seeing humans armed with AI outperforming those without AI.
Fabian Gaessler is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Business at Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Henning Piezunka is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise Insead
A version of this article first appeared in Insead Knowledge
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 400hp
Torque: 500Nm
Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)
On sale: 2022
The specs
Engine: 8.0-litre, quad-turbo 16-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed auto
0-100kmh 2.3 seconds
0-200kmh 5.5 seconds
0-300kmh 11.6 seconds
Power: 1500hp
Torque: 1600Nm
Price: Dh13,400,000
On sale: now
Company%20profile
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The%20specs
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala