HR technology and artificial intelligence (AI): the reality of change

Technological disruption is inevitable.

So, the question isn’t ‘if’, but rather ‘how we adapt’.

To better understand ethical AI leadership and technology change management, we hosted a webinar with HR Director Lizzy Barry, Director of HR Consulting Dan Grace and Senior L&D Advisor Vanessa Aradia.

In this blog, I’ve summarised some of their conversation, examining the current reality of technology in HR and what it means for businesses.

The next step in the workplace  

HR professionals have had their hands full these last few years, trying to keep up with change and the associated technology requirements.

The pressure is only rising now that AI has entered the conversation.

In fact, Gartner reported that 38% of HR leaders have implemented or are using generative AI – that’s double since June 2023.

Lizzy explained: “They say the only things certain in life are death and taxes – well, we actually say that ‘change’ should be added to that list.

“In the last 5-10 years, Covid has created an enormous difference in the way staff work, with many more people now hybrid and relying on tools that enable them to work remotely.

“AI is just another shift in how we do business, and this disruption is inevitable.

“Successful businesses understand AI is simply the next step and will take the time to consider how they can use the tools effectively, bring their people along on the journey and educate their teams.”

The current practical applications of AI

During the webinar, Dan shared his view on the practical applications of AI and current use cases we’re seeing, saying: “AI isn’t going anywhere – it’s here now and in our everyday workstreams.

“Now, you can’t really look at an HR tool without seeing some form of AI features, like job description builders or even chatbots.

“We’re really at an inflection point with AI – it’s happening whether you like it or not.

“As such, you need to be involved and implement some strong governance around what your business is doing and the right way of applying these things.

“I saw quite an interesting stat: almost 100% of Fortune 500 companies are already using AI in hiring, and many are using it in HR as well.

“If the Fortune 500 are using it, then most other companies will follow along; it’s safe to assume that a lot of companies are either already using the tools or planning to in the next three to six months.

“Now, algorithms that support recruitment have been in place for years, both biased and non-biased.

“But we’re now also seeing that some of these AI models also have inherent bias in them.

“That’s resulting in lawsuits, particularly in the US.

“You need to have a really good understanding of what the algorithm you’re implementing is doing, and I suggest you ask vendors if they can give you a bias-audit, as there’s major potential implications.

“It’s really worrying what these biased models are doing and the impact they’re having – it may be eliminating people who are the right fit, costing you lost labour as well as impacting profits and the bottom line.”

Legislative risks  

Dan also highlighted recent legislative changes, saying: “You really need to be careful about what these tools are doing and the impact they can have on your business.

“It’s really risky stuff, and we’re seeing more regulation come into play in the US and Europe.

“In Europe, we’ve seen the EU AI Act come into play, which is a pretty seismic piece of legislation that can carry some major repercussions if you get it wrong.

“Key takeaways: worry about AI bias and be aware of upcoming regulations that will have an impact everywhere we go.”

Helping people adapt

Vanessa offered some closing advice, sharing her views on adapting to technological changes: “The world doesn’t pause while we catch our breath.

“Whether it’s the horse-to-car revolution or the AI-to-human decision shift, change is never abstract and it alters the skills we need, the tools we use and the way we think about our own value. 

“Resilience, adaptability and what I like to call ‘change fitness’ are the muscles that allow us to stay upright when everything around us is moving. 

“The shifts don’t always happen overnight, the winners will be those who are ready to learn, unlearn and reimagine their role in the system.”

If you want more guidance, good news! Our no-nonsense, practical session is now available to watch on demand.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to:

• Transform employee fear into technology adoption with ethical leadership
• Build an AI-ready organisation that amplifies human potential
• Create practical governance frameworks for data privacy, security and company policies
• Develop employee training and AI literacy programs
• Shift your HR function from reactive to strategic

This session will give you the framework and tools to lead confidently through AI transformation, without losing the human touch that makes your organisation special.

Webinar: Beyond the Hype – ethical AI Leadership and Change Management for HR and Payroll

Watch here