HR leaders are urged to take a bigger role in AI transformation

An article published by Business Reporter and sponsored by UNLEASH argues that HR must move from support function to change driver as enterprises adopt AI. The piece says HR should help shape business strategy, redesign service delivery and protect employee wellbeing as work changes.

Why it matters: - AI is forcing companies to rethink how work gets done, how decisions are made and how employees are supported. - HR leaders now have a chance to influence business outcomes, not just manage processes. - The shift matters because employee experience, productivity and trust will depend on how AI is rolled out.

What happened: - Business Reporter published an article sponsored by UNLEASH on July 7, 2026. - David Green, Managing Partner and Executive Director of Insight222, argued that HR should move from a supportive role to a proactive one. - Green said HR should help align people, technology and business outcomes in AI-driven enterprises.

The details: - The article says HR’s first opportunity is leading organizational transformation. - HR should help answer what the organization is trying to achieve, how work is changing, which skills create the most value and where productivity, customer outcomes or employee experience are being constrained. - Sharon Doherty said on the Digital HR Leaders podcast that “AI must be treated as a business, people and risk transformation, not a technology project.” - The article says HR must also transform how the function itself is delivered. - Employees and managers increasingly expect support that is flexible, timely and relevant. - Meeting that expectation requires stronger product thinking, better service design and closer partnerships with IT, legal, finance and risk teams. - The article says governance should be embedded from the start to support transparency, accountability and trust. - HR also has a role in making sure technology enhances work while protecting human dignity. - AI should support better decisions and improve employee experience, wellbeing and productivity. - Katerina Berg said on the podcast that “productivity does not come from telling people to execute faster; it comes from helping them grow.”

Between the lines: - The piece frames HR as a strategic operator in AI adoption, not a back-office support team. - That implies HR will be expected to weigh business performance, workforce capability and risk at the same time. - The emphasis on governance and dignity suggests AI adoption is being treated as a management issue, not just a software rollout.

What's next: - The article points readers to the full piece for more on the role HR should play in the AI era. - HR teams that want to stay relevant will likely need to build new skills in service design, cross-functional governance and workforce transformation. - Organizations adopting AI will need to decide how much decision-making stays with people and how much is supported by technology.

The bottom line: - In the AI era, HR is being recast as a driver of transformation, employee trust and business value.