Is this a marketing stunt, or is the company genuinely restructuring its organization to place a robot at the top of the internal hierarchy? Although the idea may seem far-fetched to some, the Polish (originating from Colombia) rum-specialized company Dictador has officially announced its decision to name a humanoid robot called Mika as its CEO. Artificial intelligence powers the system, which is a creation of the startup Hanson Robotics.
Mika is presented as a relentless director, capable of operating 24/7 without the need for rest. Unlike a human, she offers continuous availability and consistent efficiency. “I don’t really have weekends; I’m always available 24/7, ready to make executive decisions and unleash the magic of AI,” she stated in a video for Reuters.
Currently, the robot is used in an experimental capacity and only handles a few specific tasks. Moreover, despite its ability to perform some complex operations, the system is still far from matching a human CEO.
Mika’s Tasks
Mika is involved in strategic marketing operations, project management, and tasks related to blockchain technologies. She is responsible for identifying potential business opportunities by identifying potential clients for the company. She also assists in selecting artists to design rum bottles, which likely involves evaluating artistic work before choosing professionals who best align with the brand’s image and values. Mika also heads the company’s Arthouse Spirits project, related to a collection of “NFTs.”
As the CEO, the robot also contributes to strategic decision-making. It can analyze data and utilize it to optimize goal achievement. In this process, Mika avoids personal or emotional biases that could affect decision-making. Devoid of feelings, she prioritizes logic.
However, although she can perform many tasks, Dictador’s new CEO will not make significant decisions that have a substantial impact on the company’s strategy. The challenging task of laying off employees is thankfully reserved for human executives.
A Communication Flaw
If the robot CEO is limited in the tasks it can perform, it also exhibits certain communication flaws, according to Fox Business journalist Lauren Simonetti. Indeed, Mika reportedly had difficulties in real-time interactions, as she accumulated a “significant delay” in her responses to questions.
With such a flaw, is a robot still well-suited to “lead” a company? To answer this question, we would need to await further feedback following this experiment at Dictador. In another Hong Kong-based gaming company, naming an AI as CEO, on the other hand, reportedly did not cause any issues. In fact, the company even performed well.
As for employees, opinions may vary, as per Lauren Simonetti, who interviewed people on the streets of New York. Some categorically refuse to work for a robot, while others don’t see it as a problem.