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The AI Transformation Mandate, Part II

Knownwell

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the role of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly significant, especially in the realm of Talent & HR. With AI transformation set to redefine professional environments, senior HR leaders face the challenge of spearheading this change. In the second part of this 2-part AI Knowhow episode, CEO David DeWolf and Chief Strategy Officer Pete Buer dive deeper into the critical role HR must play over the next 18 to 36 months of AI transformation.

Why HR Needs to Be Front and Center in AI Transformations

If HR is going to deliver on its mission of helping bring organizations along on a reimagining of the workforce and the requisite reskilling of team members, it needs to be involved earlier in the conversation than it currently is. “HR needs to be in from the beginning, not only to help influence the human/talent angle on all the questions but also to know what’s coming,” Pete says. “They need to understand the work ahead rather than five steps later in the process downstream get handed something and be expected to pull off some kind of magic.”

Enhancing Skills and the Change Management Imperative

One of the core challenges identified in the episode is the skills deficit that many organizations face. Pete and David discuss the importance of HR in managing this challenge—ensuring that employees are equipped with the necessary skills to work alongside AI. Pete highlights, “There are skilling questions that get overlooked…especially around change management,” pointing to HR’s crucial role in developing change management initiatives that support employees through the transition to AI-driven workflows.

As AI becomes more prevalent, HR leaders must reassess their own capabilities and functions. Pete stresses the need for HR departments to lead by example, saying, “There’s the skilling of yourself and your team that we’ve talked about, just to be ready for the world to come.” This includes redesigning talent management frameworks and adopting skills-based approaches over traditional role-based structures.

Guest Interview: Tamarah Usher of Slalom

For this week’s guest interview, Senior Director of AI  Transformation at Slalom Tamarah Usher, talks with Pete about key lessons learned from the AI transformation initiatives underway both at Slalom internally and for their clients. One of the biggest hurdles she sees at the moment? The skills gap required to reinvent or creatively reassemble workflows with AI.

It’s important to note, however, that AI taking over much of the work that has traditionally been done by humans doesn’t spell the end of the road for human creativity and ingenuity. Far from it, Tamarah says. “My abundance mindset doesn’t let me see the end of human work and collaboration and flourishing around the things that we want to do,” she says. “I think that just shifts and I think that if we can be a big part of creating that next wave, then that can be certainly a place where we play.”

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Show Notes & Related Links

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