Only 1 in 5 HR leaders play an active role in AI strategy, Harvard report finds

“There’s a very, very important role for the HR directors and executives to really understand and link business purpose to the way in which these technologies might be used, and their implications for labour,” Brown previously said.

According to the HBR report, one the roles that HR leaders may play includes easing employees’ fears about job security.

It noted that while HR isn’t the only responsible team in allaying AI anxieties, they may also struggle to add more strategic value unless they help people embrace AI.

“Meeting employees in different states of acceptance about the technology’s impact, and dispelling their worries, is something HR is uniquely positioned to tackle and should take the lead on,” the report read, citing Jenn Galbraith, vice president, employee success product management, at Salesforce.

What is HR doing?

To address the lack of HR involvement in AI strategies, the report said HR leaders must overcome the perception that supporting the AI strategy is beyond their capabilities.