AI Redefines the Role of HR: Between Transformation and Integration

A Dinner to Discuss the Future of HR in the Age of AI

In New York, Business Insider hosted a dinner bringing together human resources directors and senior leaders to discuss the future of work in the context of artificial intelligence. This event, titled "Futureproofing Your Workforce in the Age of AI," highlighted the ongoing challenges HR leaders face in a rapidly changing world. The discussions were carefully edited for clarity.

Maxine Carrington, Chief Human Resources Officer at Northwell Health, posed a provocative question to her peers: "Are we working for AI at this point, or is AI working for us?" This inquiry resonated among the HR executives present on that rainy evening in New York. She continued by emphasizing the importance of viewing AI tools as facilitators to achieve goals, rather than simply chasing the latest technologies. Participants nodded in agreement, sharing this vision during the ninety-minute conversation organized by Business Insider and presented by the job site.

An Organizational Challenge Rather Than a Technological One

Gareth Lewis, from Lewis People & Culture Advisory, expressed his view that the real challenge lies in organizational transformation rather than in the technology itself. He noted that the current discussion focuses too much on tools, efficiency, and workforce reductions, at the expense of redefining roles within companies. According to him, it is crucial to shift the focus to how roles can be redefined to better adapt to evolving technologies.

Agnes Garaba, Chief Human Resources Officer at UiPath, is striving to redefine these roles, although it is not an easy task. She explained that each functional leader is invited to envision the future of their team, asking what a complete reorganization would look like. However, she acknowledged that imagination is often the greatest obstacle to this reinvention. She emphasized that this process requires deep reflection and an open mind to consider entirely new team structures.

The Tension Between Total Transformation and AI Tool Integration

The tension between AI driving total transformation and a focus on integrating AI tools was at the heart of the leaders' concerns. This duality was a recurring theme during the discussion, highlighting the importance of finding a balance between adopting new technologies and reinventing traditional roles to adapt to these changes.

Training "Power Users" of AI

Katie Burke, COO of Harvey, stressed the importance of not imposing transformation solely through coercion. She emphasized that organizations need to ask themselves whether they are merely experimenting or genuinely seeking to make a real impact. According to her, senior leaders must actively engage in the process, for example, by participating in hackathons. She also mentioned that transformation cannot be driven solely by fear. She advocated for a balance between incentives and rewards, as employees perform better when motivated by positive factors.

Holding Partners Accountable for Proving the Value of AI Tools

Roz Harris, VP of Talent at Zillow, highlighted the necessity of holding product partners accountable. She explained that leaders and shareholders want to know what the groundbreaking change will be that unlocks the potential of teams. She pointed out that few companies develop these solutions in-house but rely on their partners to meet their needs. Harris stressed the importance of clearly articulating business needs to suppliers to ensure that the proposed solutions align with strategic objectives.

Hackathons as Talent Revealers

Maggie Hulce, Chief Revenue Officer at the job site, shared an initiative from her company: a monthly competition where employees can propose ideas for agents or AI use cases. She noted that sales teams, often perceived as one-dimensional, have proven to be innovative contributors in this context, demonstrating their versatility. Hulce explained that this type of competition helps uncover hidden talents and stimulates creativity within teams, thereby fostering a culture of continuous innovation.

The Central Role of HR Leaders in AI Adoption

Dickie Steele, a partner at McKinsey & Company, stated that HR should be at the forefront of deploying AI agents. He encouraged the creation of a culture of continuous productivity improvement, urging companies to adopt a more ambitious approach than simply seeking to make employees marginally more productive. Steele emphasized that HR has a crucial role to play in pushing the company to consider more compelling and bold value-creation strategies.

Caution Amidst the Hype Surrounding AI

Liz Dente, Chief Human Resources Officer at Priceline, expressed some reservations about the promises of massive returns from AI. She highlighted that incremental and consistent progress is more realistic and beneficial in the long run. According to her, the hype surrounding AI can lead to unrealistic expectations, and it is important to maintain a balanced perspective. Dente insisted that companies should focus on gradual improvements that sustainably integrate into their daily operations.