HR’s new frontier: Driving AI skills and innovation across the organization

By Richard Hodge, Co-Founder of Harness Intelligence.

As organizations strive to harness the power of generative AI, there’s one department that holds the keys to its successful integration: Human Resources. Traditionally seen as the guardians of talent and workplace culture, HR is emerging as a critical player in upskilling the workforce and ensuring that AI thrives across the entire organization.

HR: The bridge between technology and talent

With AI revolutionizing everything from strategic decision-making to operational efficiency, the role of HR is expanding. It’s no longer just about recruiting and retaining talent but also about ensuring that the workforce is equipped with the skills needed to work alongside AI. A study by the World Economic Forum predicts that 23% of global jobs will change over the next 5 years due to technological advancements, including AI. And that’s conservative.

This shift is where HR steps in. By collaborating closely with IT and leadership, HR can create learning pathways that build AI capabilities across the organization in a safe and engaging way. This includes not just improving technical skills, but also fostering an AI-ready mindset—one that embraces continuous learning and agility, follows organizational guidelines, and uses the platforms, agents, and bots that are secure.

Learning isn’t just about taking courses or attending workshops. It’s about providing safe spaces where professionals can practice and experiment with AI tools without the fear of failure. Think of it as a sandbox for innovation, where leaders can explore AI applications specific to their roles, test out different scenarios, and develop the confidence to lead their teams in into augmenting the skills of every team and professional.

Creating AI-enabled leaders

HR has the opportunity to help leaders tap into what our thought leader partners ate Harness Intelligence (HiTM) call the Intelligence Ecosystem™. This ecosystem includes the vast array of tools, technologies, and human insights that leaders can leverage to make better, faster decisions. By integrating AI into this ecosystem, HR can ensure that leaders are not just consumers of AI but are actively using it to elevate their performance and that of their teams.

HR can work with IT to offer AI-powered tools like Hi’s PracticeBot or HiBot Coach, which provide real- time, hands-on experiences with AI in a low-risk environment. These tools are designed to help leaders navigate complex business challenges, enhance decision-making processes, and develop AI strategies tailored to their specific needs.

A call to action for HR professionals

To make this vision a reality, HR professionals need to take proactive steps:

1. Collaborate with IT and L&D: Work closely with IT to identify the AI tools that will be most beneficial to your organization. Partner with Learning & Development (L&D) to create training programs that not only teach AI skills but also how to apply them in everyday tasks and with their teams.
2. Foster an AI-ready culture: Encourage a growth mindset within the organization. AI is a tool to augment human intelligence, not replace it. Leaders should see AI as an opportunity to add more value, not as a threat to their roles. Discovery based learning engages the leaders to experience and adopt these new mindsets.
3. Create sponsored spaces for learning: Develop programs that allow leaders to experiment with AI in a risk-free environment. This could be through simulations, sandbox environments, or AI-enhanced workshops. And to continue their development with strategies to deploy asynronous learning in the flow of day to day work.

Conclusion: Embrace the future with HR at the helm

Generative AI is not just another tool—it’s a transformative title wave. HR has a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of this transformation, guiding leaders and teams through the AI revolution. By leveraging the Hi Intelligence Ecosystem™ and Hi's suite of workshops and team labs, HR can ensure their organization doesn’t just survive in the age of AI but thrives.