As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries at unprecedented speed, boards face the challenge of guiding their organizations through profound technological and workforce transitions. In this environment, the modern CHRO has become an indispensable strategic partner, connecting the dots between what AI can do and how the company can effectively work faster, better and smarter with it. The CHRO serves as a trusted advisor who helps the board understand how AI will affect organizational capabilities, culture, risk and long-term competitiveness—while playing a key role in guiding AI adoption.
AI is a critical competitive necessity that can drive productivity, scalability and innovation if appropriately implemented. In a recent survey of our members, nearly half said AI adoption is a high priority for their organizations right now.
AI raises strategic, ethical and operational questions. The CHRO provides essential leadership that helps boards distinguish between AI initiatives that drive genuine business value and those that sound impressive, but lack internal viability. The CHRO also helps directors understand which decisions require board level judgment—such as major workforce restructuring or ethical guardrails—versus those best handled by management. Their insight enables boards to establish clear oversight frameworks early, reducing risk and strengthening alignment with company strategy.
AI’s disruptive impact on work also makes the CHRO central to balancing innovation with responsibility. While AI has the potential to streamline operations and enhance productivity, it also brings the possibility of sweeping job displacement. The question isn’t whether the workforce will change, but whether the company will manage that change strategically or reactively. At the same time, organizations face an urgent need to reskill and upskill current employees for new AI-enabled roles and embed learning into workforce strategy. Our research found that CHROs cited measuring ROI and building new workforce skills as the most immediate challenges to AI success.
The CHRO helps the board understand these complimentary pressures and ensures that the company crafts a thoughtful approach to workforce transformation designed to drive acceptance and adoption. This includes evaluating talent gaps, forecasting tasks and roles likely to be automated or augmented, and designing reskilling pathways that preserve institutional knowledge while positioning the company for growth. By partnering closely with the CHRO, boards can make more informed decisions about the pace and scale of AI deployment.
Given the speed of advancement in AI, boards must also rapidly build their own fluency in the technology. A CHRO can accelerate this learning curve by developing ongoing “AI boot camps” tailored specifically for directors. These immersive sessions enable board members to quickly grasp evolving AI capabilities, regulatory trends, competitive trends, ethical considerations, use cases and potential risk scenarios. By grounding the board’s understanding in timely, practical, business-relevant content, the CHRO helps directors ask sharper questions, provide more effective oversight, and engage confidently in strategic planning related to AI.
Ultimately, the CHRO’s involvement ensures that AI adoption is anchored in human capital strategy and organizational values. As the board examines AI investments, evaluates risk, and monitors progress, the CHRO can provide data-driven insights on employee sentiment, culture and capability development. Their counsel helps directors anticipate workforce challenges before they arise, build trust with stakeholders, and guide the organization toward sustainable, people-centered innovation.
By partnering closely with the CHRO, boards will take a proactive, informed role in unlocking AI’s potential while safeguarding the workforce and organizational integrity. In an era defined by rapid technological change, this partnership is essential for long-term success.
