HR Leaders Risk Irrelevance if They Don't Own AI Strategy

IBM's 2026 CHRO Study warns that HR leaders risk becoming irrelevant if they don't take control of AI strategy. The study surveyed 1,500 HR leaders and 8,800 employees and found that nearly half of CHROs are not involved in AI decision-making.

The report highlights two potential futures for HR: being a leader in the future of work or becoming obsolete. Nickle LaMoreaux, CHRO at IBM, emphasizes that there is no universal playbook for this work, but three actions can help HR leaders seize control.

First, HR leaders must fix their own house by investing in AI capabilities within their function. This includes building AI literacy, performance management, and human-AI workflow design skills across the entire HR team.

Second, CHROs need to take ownership of the people side of AI, ensuring that it is guided by clear human and organizational principles. This involves conducting an inventory of where AI is shaping employee decisions and working with other leaders to align on how AI will impact work and the workforce.