How AI Is Forging an Unlikely Alliance Between Tech and HR to Reshape Your Career

The New Corporate Partnership

Corporate tech departments are now joining forces with their human-resources counterparts as businesses nationwide grapple with the workforce impacts of artificial intelligence. This collaboration aims to manage the disruption and address employee concerns about AI's role in their jobs.

AI's Impact on the Workforce

AI is already wreaking havoc on white-collar jobs, with CEOs increasingly acknowledging that the technology will eliminate certain roles. Looking ahead, employees face a workplace transformed by new processes, digital co-workers, and organizational structures designed to maximize AI's potential. This shift isn't just technological—it's a cultural transformation that requires careful management.

CIOs and HR: A Strategic Alliance

Chief information officers are partnering with HR to educate employees on using AI effectively and alleviating fears. They also rely on HR to manage the integration of AI agents—bots that perform tasks for humans. For example:

• Cisco is exploring how a "virtual staff of AI entities" will work alongside its 86,200 employees, questioning traditional chain-of-command structures.
• Indeed has a "transformation office" under its tech team that collaborates with HR to scale AI solutions, leveraging HR's expertise in learning and development.
• Microsoft has a workforce transformation group that works closely with IT and HR to shape AI's impact on its 228,000 employees, emphasizing HR's role in enabling flexibility and learning.

Job Losses and Workforce Realignment

Despite efforts to integrate AI positively, job cuts have occurred:

• Microsoft laid off 9,000 workers in July, adding to previous cuts.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers is reducing roles in marketing, HR, and support functions as it redesigns processes around new technology.
• U.S. companies cut 153,074 jobs in October, with many citing AI's impact and cost controls.

Managing Expectations and Enhancing Productivity

CIOs and HR experts are focused on shifting perceptions of AI from a threat to a helper. At Netskope, leaders work to show that AI agents are co-workers that boost productivity, not replacements. IDC predicts that by next year, 40% of job roles in Global 2000 companies will involve working with AI agents, but warns that "AI-driven burnout" could reduce productivity by 15% by 2027.

Case Study: Moody's AI Integration

Moody's has formed an AI workforce enablement team combining technology, HR, and corporate affairs to ensure employees effectively use its AI-powered assistant, Moody's Copilot. The team's motto, "AI is the tool. The people are the power," highlights the focus on human-AI collaboration.

The Future of Work

As AI continues to evolve, the partnership between tech and HR will be crucial for navigating workforce changes, fostering innovation, and supporting employees through this transformative era.