This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Meredith Hawkins, the chief people officer at GoTo, a technology company that provides business communication and remote IT-support tools. Hawkins has worked at GoTo since 2019 and has served as its chief people officer for more than three years. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.
AI is on everyone’s mind, but there is still a lot of anxiety around how companies use it and what they expect from their employees.
Job seekers may want to understand a potential employer’s approach to AI, but worry that asking about it will make them appear resistant to new technology.
I don’t think it has to come across that way. Asking thoughtful questions about AI can show that you are prepared, curious, and strategic. It can also help you determine whether the company has clear expectations and a culture where you will feel safe doing your best work.
Start with curiosity, then ask about the rules
To ask about AI during an interview, I would explain where my question was coming from.
I might say: “I’m trying to gather as much information as I can about the company. I’m curious, interested in learning, and have a growth mindset, but I also want to understand the company’s culture.”
Then I would ease into the topic with broader questions: How much does the company use AI? Is it primarily focused on using AI for customers? What are its expectations for employees?
Based on the interviewer’s answer, I would follow up by asking whether the company has policies in place, what it considers acceptable and unacceptable AI use, and how it protects data.
You can acknowledge that AI is a hot topic, and that is why you are asking. That kind of curiosity and thoughtfulness can signal that you came prepared.
The answers can also tell you something about the company’s culture. Is it organized enough to have policies? Is it thinking broadly about what matters to its employees? Clear answers may also demonstrate the maturity of its HR organization.
Just like anti-sexual harassment training and inclusive practices, AI policies are becoming part of what it means to feel safe at work. If employees are asked to use AI but fear being punished for its mistakes, they may not feel safe enough to do their best work.
Workers fear being blamed for AI mistakes
GoTo’s research surveyed 2,500 companies about the future of work. One of the biggest findings was that 83% of workers fear they could be blamed for mistakes made by AI or fired because of them.
There’s tension between that fear and the pressure to adopt a technology that is moving quickly. AI can offer amazing benefits, but it also raises a lot of questions. People are experimenting with it in different ways, with both successes and failures.
If employees submit work they believe is accurate and it isn’t, what happens?
That is why companies need policies and guidelines that explain what workers can expect. Among the companies we surveyed, about 53% of large enterprises had AI policies, compared with 36% of midsize companies and 24% of small companies. The landscape is very inconsistent.
Trust and transparency must go both ways
Trust is at the foundation of all of this.
When potential employees and employers are transparent from the outset about who they are and what matters to them, they lay the groundwork for a more positive relationship.
Job seekers should expect to learn about a company’s AI policies from the moment they begin interacting with it.
For example, we have guidelines explaining how our talent-acquisition team uses AI, what use is acceptable, and what we expect from candidates regarding AI use in résumés and interviews. We have also made decisions on where to draw the line on AI use, who can see employee data, and how that information should be protected or anonymized. Our managers are trained to reinforce those expectations and help employees find resources during their first 90 days.
That is all to produce a better experience for employees once they are in their roles, and for employers, to gain engaged workers who feel they have found the right fit and can do their best work.
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