In Response to "How HR Took Over the World" In The Economist

A recent article in The Economist “How HR took over the world” takes an interesting stance on the current and future role of Human Resources in the executive suite. While it focuses on the idea that AI will directly impact the HR profession, it neglects to recognize the impact of HR professionals on AI.

The opportunity that HR Professionals face is paramount. In the past, HR has taken on additional responsibility because it didn’t belong anywhere else, or as the author points out, when there are new trends or regulations that force HR into focusing on new areas. This, the workforce transformation being driven by AI, is the first time where responsibility actually belongs with HR and will solidify that proverbial strategic seat at the table they have been seeking.

AI will take over many administrative pieces of HR, while it will open the door for others. However, AI needs to be governed to manage risk, work ethically, control biases, and more. Your compliance HR professionals can be upskilled to manage AI governance and risk. Your strategic HR leaders can then step up into roles working with the organization on AI change management and thoughtfully implementing AI across the organization.

CHROs will need to work with the executive team and board on defining organizational structure and workforce planning using both human and AI resources. This is a new approach that HR will need to lead, and this is critically important for organizations. Some organizations are throwing the baby out with the bathwater and eliminating positions assuming AI will take over. Organizational design needs to be well thought out and aligned with your organizational strategy and culture. This will need to be revisited continuously as AI further evolves and impacts the workplace.

Training will be another area for HR focus on. AI continually changes. This means that once we’ve trained the team, the knowledge is outdated. HR needs to build a long term training plan to keep teams trained and retrained. AI. Additionally, we have the opportunity to upskill and reskill teams as their roles are morphing and adapting.

HR professionals that don’t transition from the traditional HR roles to the new needs of HR in this AI revolution will be forced out, but it gives a great opportunity for HR to step up and help truly lead the organization and manage the AI within the organization. So, I challenge you at The Economist. While AI will impact HR, it will be transformative in the way we manage resources, both human and AI.