The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has advised organisations to harness their expertise in training, job design and workforce planning to guide and equip their employees for organisational growth.  
  
The institute said this comes as an organisation’s ability to navigate the landscape and to take a considered, responsible approach to artificial intelligence (AI) adoption that would hinge on the experts in people, work and change.
  
Senior Policy and Practice Adviser, Technology and Analytics at CIPD, Hayfa Mohdzaini, emphasized the significance of highlighting the critical role of the profession in shaping the impact of artificial intelligence at work. As AI continues its rapid advancement and becomes a prominent focus for investment and development, it’s crucial to underscore the involvement of organizations in shaping its influence in the workplace.

She said as high-profile companies engage in what could be seen as an AI arms race, economies are coming to a point where AI use may become so significant that workforces and workplaces must be rewired to meet the challenges and capture the opportunities that AI brings. 

She urged that leaders should be at the forefront of discussions about AI implementation in their organisations.   

She urged that employers and their human resource (HR) teams should introduce clear guidance covering the ethical and responsible use of AI at work, data security, and fair treatment of people.  

“They should foster a culture of cross-team collaboration, and help employees develop their skills or reskill as necessary to ensure no one gets left behind as AI transforms workplaces and careers. 

“The wide-reaching integration and impact of AI technology also risks a modern day ‘Wild West’ where unprincipled actors and unregulated actions can lead to undesirable outcomes, some of which may not have even been intended or anticipated. This not only underscores the importance of establishing clear, ethical HR policies for AI use within organisations but also the urgency for safeguards, fair regulation, and good governance,” she said.

She said while the institute was championing better work and working lives on behalf of the profession, and would be playing an active and ongoing role in the dialogue.