BUS News

How would humans react if robots became your colleagues? On 12^th December 2024, the HKBU School of Business hosted its biannual Business Power Lunch, exploring the potential challenges and opportunities of integrating robots into the workforce. The event united over 30 HKBU scholars, business leaders, senior corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and researchers, including many alumni from the School, sparking lively discussions and fresh perspectives.

Prof. Xu HUANG, Associate Dean (Research & Impact), opened the event with a warm welcome, reiterating that since its inception in 2018, the gathering's mission has been to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering meaningful discussions and transformative insights.

While participants enjoyed delightful cuisines, Dr. Rocky CHEN, Associate Professor of the Department of Management, Marketing and Information Systems, delivered an insightful presentation titled “When Robots Become Colleagues: Navigating the New Age of Robots for Better Service Performance”. Dr. CHEN sparked the audience's curiosity with a thought-provoking question: “How would you feel about having robots as colleagues? Positively, neutrally, or negatively? Would performance improve or decline?” He explained that reactions can vary widely, depending on the interplay between the characteristics of the robots and the employees. Introducing the concept of the “magic mirror effect”, Dr. CHEN noted that human employees tend to feel threatened only when they share similar expertise with their robot colleagues, leading to decreased performance. To counter this effect, he proposed two key strategies: fostering a cooperative mindset and shifting perspectives from negative to positive.

His presentation ignited lively discussions during the Q&A session about the impact of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) on human interaction and job security. Prof. HUANG and Dr. CHEN stated that management should address employees’ concerns by highlighting unique human traits that AI cannot replicate and by positioning robots as complementary tools. The conversation also touched on the cost efficiency of robots, the necessity for transparent communication within the organisation, and the potential for new job roles arising from AI advancements.

The HKBU Business Power Lunch continues to be a cornerstone event for the School of Business, offering a platform for scholars to share their latest research and for industry leaders to gain fresh perspectives on pressing global issues.