AI’s encroachment into the workplace is taking on new forms every day, the latest example being Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s plans to create an AI avatar for employees to interact with. The Financial Times recently reported that not only is Meta doubling down on its ambitions to be a leader in the AI space, but the company is also to have an AI leader available for when the original isn’t.
As dystopian as the concept sounds, we have already heard of celebrities creating AI chatbot personas of themselves for fans to interact with, and the idea of AI bosses is also one that is frequently discussed. While such conversations and concepts are being normalized, we have to stop to ask: what is the purpose of having employees talk to an AI CEO, and how does it serve the organization overall?
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly involved in building an AI avatar of himself so that employees can now talk to their leader. (Image: Freepik)
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is Building an AI Avatar for Employees to “Feel More Connected” With Their Leader
Keen on showcasing the capabilities of AI, Meta is now reportedly developing an AI avatar of its CEO by training it on his images, voice, and mannerisms. Meta’s new AI workplace strategy will allow staff to interact with the CEO when he isn’t available, “so that employees might feel more connected to the founder through interactions with it.” Not much else has been said about the possible areas of application, but it likely marks the early phases of a plan to allow other celebrities to build such duplicates of themselves using Meta’s AI tools. The business leader is also reportedly working on an AI clone to assist him with his day-to-day tasks, but little else is known about this plan.
Mark Zuckerberg is no stranger to controversial applications of technology. The company’s Metaverse plans were once deemed to be the future of the online world, but the CEO’s poor-quality VR avatar drew a considerable number of jeers online. Plans for the platform have since fizzled out. We also have the Meta glasses, which have seen high demand but have also drawn criticism for how easily they can be applied towards nefarious purposes. The creation of the Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL) for AI advancement has seen the recruitment of the best talent on the market today, but this has also been accompanied by reports of employee poaching.
Zuckerberg’s exploration of an AI avatar, particularly for use within the workplace, brings up a lot of questions about the nature of technological advancements today and how they may be taking us further away from the most important aspects of employment and workplace stability.
Who Wouldn’t Like to Rely on an AI Clone for Meetings?
On the surface of things, Meta’s plans to rely on AI for employee communication might not feel as unusual, because we have already seen instances of business leaders using duplicates to communicate important information.
In May last year, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski used an AI version of himself to deliver quarterly earnings and present the highlights rather than present them himself. This might sound like a delightful prospect to others as well, particularly those who do not want to attend meetings, interact with employees, or communicate bad news.
We have all had days when the idea of sending someone else to perform a task we don’t want to do has seemed like an appealing idea. However, relying on these AI leadership tools could be the reason for the weakening role of leaders in the modern workplace.
With the rise of fractional leadership, we are already witnessing a shift from permanent membership of a business’ executive team. With the arrival of an AI avatar, the need for a real leader to duplicate also weakens. Having a second AI boss at Meta might free the leader to attend to meetings and tasks that are more pressing than discussions with employees, but it also leaves workers with insights they may have managed to elicit from just any other chatbot.
Should We Look Forward to Talking to AI CEOs?
If technology is set on track towards a future where the workplace is run by AI or by AI recreations of company leaders, there is little that we can do to prevent it. However, we can recommend that business leaders pause to reconsider what this means for their organization. The role of leaders is constantly evolving, and things are no different today, where employees look to their managers and leaders for guidance on all things, including the use of AI. Employees often model themselves after their leaders, and interacting with an AI persona doesn’t realistically give them too much to model themselves after.
Much like the experience of AI chatbots dressing themselves up as therapists, interacting with an AI CEO avatar can feel hollow. An opportunity to discuss ideas and plans for the company with business leaders is often a matter of pride for employees, but having to conduct these conversations with AI tools can diminish some of its effects. With AI clones attending meetings, employees can start to sense a lack of care or interest in their leaders, which will do little to build their connection with the organization.
Zuckerberg’s AI avatar is likely more a way of building interest in the company’s AI tools than a sign of change in Meta’s workplace AI strategy. However, it is better to have these conversations about the role of technology in the workplace today than dive right into its use without planning ahead for its impact in the future.
What do you think about Meta’s ambitions to introduce an AI avatar of Zuckerberg? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
