A Japanese finance company is requiring new hires to utilise the technology and even testing them on it as firms wrestle with how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT may change working practices.
Tokyo-based LayerX Corp., which is breaking the trend, recently posted a job ad for fresh graduates requiring prospects to be evaluated on their usage of the chatbot produced by OpenAI Inc. and another named Notion AI, despite rising concerns about its potential to eliminate employment and data protection.
The startup, which promotes the digitization of corporate transactions, is certain it is on the right side of the widening technological divide. Its use has been restricted by numerous Wall Street institutions, and it has been outlawed in schools in areas like New York City.
“We recognize that ChatGPT is not perfect,” said Takaya Ishiguro, chief human resources officer at LayerX, in an interview. “However, it is also dangerous to be too afraid to utilize new technology.”
Throughout their admission examinations, recruits are required to provide instructions to ChatGPT. Assessors focus more on how well they start the process than on the responses themselves. Also, candidates are required to undertake a study to determine the technological constraints.
LayerX, which received 5.5 billion yen ($41 million) in a recent round of Series A funding backed by MUFG’s venture capital arm and Mitsui & Co., is not expecting an “immediate impact” on profits by using the technology, but expects to hire about 20 new recruits a year which it expects to raise productivity “rapidly.”
One area where the recruits will be expected to perform is assessing the accuracy of ChatGPT’s output, said Ishiguro. The chatbot’s ability to confidently give answers even when they are wrong has also given businesses thinking of adopting it a reason for pause.
“It’s important to jump on new technologies quickly,” said Ishiguro, noting it wants its employees to spot and adjust to new technology like ChatGPT even if they don’t always catch on. “I think the candidates are falling behind from the trend if they haven’t tried it at this point.”
