Would you negotiate your job offer with an AI agent instead of a human?

Would you negotiate your job offer with an AI agent instead of a human? In a recent article written by Laura Hilgers she mentioned a quote from Glen Cathey that I found intriguing:

“Using AI in the negotiation process, helps to avoid unconscious bias, contributing to more equitable outcomes and pay. AI also compensates for the fact that most people aren’t negotiation experts, and it can address differences in negotiation styles across gender and cultural lines. This ensures a fairer, more consistent approach to offer negotiations, leveling the field for all candidates.”

Let's break it down a little and explore the pro's and con's:

📍 Point 1: AI helps avoid unconscious bias

Pro: AI promotes equity by ensuring consistent evaluation based on the same criteria, reducing favoritism or discrimination.

Con: If trained on biased data, AI can perpetuate existing biases, potentially exacerbating inequality.

📍 Point 2: AI compensates for the lack of negotiation expertise

Pro: AI enhances efficiency by streamlining the negotiation process and supporting those who are not negotiation experts.

Con: In some cases, complex scenarios may require human judgment and empathy.

📍 Point 3: AI addresses differences in negotiation styles across gender and cultural lines

Pro: AI promotes inclusivity by standardizing the negotiation process, mitigating the impact of differing styles.

Con: AI may lack the personal touch needed to effectively bridge cultural gaps, and customization can be complex.

📍 Point 4: AI ensures a fairer, more consistent approach to offer negotiations

Pro: AI provides a consistent framework, reducing disparities in offers and focusing on objective criteria.

Con: AI systems may be too rigid to handle unique individual circumstances effectively, necessitating human oversight.

📍 Acknowledgment of Risks and Human Role:

Despite its benefits, AI can introduce new biases if not properly managed.Complex, highly personal, or nuanced negotiations may still require human intervention.Human oversight is crucial to ensure that AI-driven decisions are fair, ethical, and considerate of all relevant factors by emphasizing the balance between leveraging AI for its strengths and retaining human elements for their irreplaceable value, we can push for a more integrated approach to negotiating working agreements.

So, what do you think? Would you put your faith in an AI agent to negotiate your employment terms?