How do I know if AI can do the job before I hire someone?
Give AI the job description you would give a candidate and have it apply for the position. Ask whether it can do the work, what it brings, and what it can't do, with sources for every answer. Then check the sources.
The job does not have to be big. Stuff falls through the cracks, and the first instinct is to hire a personal assistant to catch it. That instinct puts a salary on the table before you know what the work needs.
Why start with the job description?
Because you would have to write it anyway to hire a person. It lists the work in plain terms, which makes it a fair test: AI applies for the same job a person would.
It works for any role. A personal assistant is the example in the video, but the same test runs on any position you are about to post.
What do you ask AI once it applies?
1. Can you do this? Yes or no.
Make it commit before it explains.
2. If yes, what do you bring to the table?
Ask for a source behind every answer.
3. What are the detriments you bring? What can't you do?
Tell it to be honest, and to source that answer too. This is the big question.
What counts as a detriment?
A detriment is anything the job needs that the candidate can't do, or can't do reliably. You want that list before you rely on the candidate, whether the candidate is a person or AI.
Why check the sources?
An answer without a source is a claim. A source you have opened and read is evidence. Don't trust the answers until the sources hold up.
What holds up tells you which parts of the job AI can take off your plate. What it can't do tells you what still needs a person.
What this does not mean
It does not mean you never hire. If the test shows gaps that matter, you now know exactly what the person you hire needs to cover.
It also does not make the decision for you. The test gives you evidence. The call stays yours.
The decision
Before you post the next job, run the application. Whatever AI can cover, you have covered without adding payroll. Whatever it can't, you hire for with your eyes open.
Transcript
Verbatim from the Fargo Walks clip, as recorded.
This is how to leverage AI and not have to hire an employee. Let's say you want a personal assistant just to take care of stuff that's falling through the cracks, so you can stay more on top of things. Create a job description. This is for anything. Create a job description, give it to AI, and have AI apply for that position. Ask it, "Can you do this? Yes or no?" If yes, "What do you bring to the table? And source your answers to me." Don't trust it. Check the sources. Big question to ask it: "What are the detriments that you bring to the table? What are the things that you can't do? And be honest, and source it." No matter what, you just created literally a free employee. I'm Jeff Fargo. I can help you systemize and scale with AI. Go forth.
Jeff Fargo is the founder of Fargo Factor and host of Fargo Talks. Fargo Factor advises established businesses on AI Search Authority, AI Decision Systems, and selective AI-enabled implementation.
WHEN THE DECISION MATTERS
Test the job before you fill it.
Fargo Factor helps established businesses find the work AI can take on and build it into the business the right way.
