LinkedIn’s Latest AI Masterpiece: A Job-Finding Chatbot with a Touch of Humor

“LinkedIn’s New AI Chatbot Wants to Help You Find Your Next Job”

“LinkedIn has developed an AI chatbot called Lu to help you advance your career—or just figure out what the hell you’re supposed to be doing with your life.” Now isn’t that an interesting development? An artificially intelligent creation designed to serve as your professional fairy godmother, leading you towards your dream job or simply ridding you of existential dread.

Taking a step back, the aim here is pretty commendable. LinkedIn, the tech giant that has gained a prominent seat at the professional networking table, is innovating further with the introduction of AI-powered career advice, the chatbot known as Lu (presumably for LinkedIn-Universe or for her radiant, luminous glow).

Intriguing as this innovation may be, we got this far without the guidance of a bot, didn’t we? Networking and career opportunities have always been a matter of sheer grit, hard won through resignation letters, countless interviews, and yes, the weeks-long hair pulling of 2AM job searching. God, those were the days!

Yet, LinkedIn’s Lu promises an easier route, a kind of bot-assisted shortcut to help determine our professional fortunes. Lu works by analyzing profiles, gathering data, and listening to user queries to offer job recommendations and advice. It even goes as far as encouraging job seekers to update their professional skills, connect with the right network, and step out of their comfort zones to explore new opportunities.

Are we to blindly trust the suggestions of this Siri’s professional cousin? Its working principle appears to be a culmination of intense data crunching, utilizing social graph and job data in a seeming effort to mimic the cognitive functions of a very skilled (and very human) headhunter.

But, before sending out quivers of trepidation through the human resources world, let’s understand one golden truth. No matter how adept AI becomes, it won’t be able to replicate the nuances of human interaction and intuition, elements that play a significant role in the professional sphere. AI can certainly guide us, pointing out potential career paths and improving employee engagement rates. But at the end of the day, the responsibility for shaping a career and seizing opportunities still rests with us puny humans.

Ah, the beauty of technology. On one hand, it eases our burden. On the other, it can leave us second-guessing. And in the middle, it reminds us of our uniquely human abilities and potential. So, here stands Lu, a chatbot with the best intentions, trying to navigate job seekers through the labyrinth of countless professions, urging them towards a bright future. While it may not hold the answer to life, universe, and everything, it does offer a glimpse into what career exploration might look like in the future. So brace yourself, the bots are here to help, or so they say.

Read the original article here: https://www.wired.com/story/linkedin-ai-chatbot-help-find-your-next-job/