Why CEOs expect the CHRO's influence to grow

As a fractional HR I witness most conversations about AI centered around technology: Leadership is questioning which in tools to buy, which platforms to implement, and how quickly organizations can automate processes.

But a growing body of research suggests that technology isn't necessarily the biggest obstacle to AI success. People are.

A recent IBM study of 2,000 executives across 33 countries found that 59% of CEOs expect the influence of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) to grow in the coming years. Organizations are realizing that AI adoption is fundamentally a workforce challenge and not only a software challenge.

The AI Adoption Gap

The study revealed a striking gap between Leadership's confidence and employee's concern: While CEOs believe that 83% of their workforce has the skills needed to work with AI, only 25% of employees are regularly using AI tools as part of their jobs. This gap highlights a critical reality that access does not mean adoption.

Many organizations have invested heavily in AI technologies, assuming productivity gains would naturally follow. Instead, they are discovering that employees often struggle to integrate these tools into their daily workflows. While high-performing employees tend to experiment and adapt quickly, the majority of the workforce requires guidance, training, and support.

The rapid pace of AI innovation only adds to the challenge. New platforms, models, and capabilities emerge almost weekly, creating confusion and uncertainty for employees who are already balancing competing priorities.

The Fear Factor

Perhaps the most overlooked barrier to AI adoption is fear.

Trends 2026 study found that employee concern about job displacement due to AI increased from 28% to 40% in just one year.

Interestingly, the employees most concerned are often those who actively use AI tools. As workers experience the efficiency gains firsthand, many begin to question how their roles may evolve or whether their roles will exist at all in the future.

This creates a leadership challenge that technology alone cannot solve.

Employees need transparency. They need clarity about how AI will impact their work. Most importantly, they need confidence that the organization is investing in their future, not simply replacing them. Building that trust is where HR becomes indispensable.

The Emerging Partnership Between CHROs and AI Leaders

Historically, workforce development and skills planning were viewed primarily as HR responsibilities. Today, they have become business-critical concerns discussed at the highest levels of leadership.

Organizations are increasingly recognizing that their ability to generate value from AI depends on their workforce's ability to use it effectively. This shift has elevated workforce skills from an HR initiative to a strategic business imperative. Skills and capabilities don't develop automatically. They require intentional investment in learning, coaching, and supporting. As organizations formalize AI leadership, the relationship between the CHRO and the Chief AI Officer is becoming increasingly important. While AI leaders focus on technology strategy and implementation, HR leaders bring expertise in workforce planning, talent development, organizational design, and change management. Together, they can evaluate how AI affects roles, identify emerging skill requirements, and create pathways for employees to succeed.

HR professionals are evolving from administrators of policies and procedures to becoming architects of workforce transformation. The companies that thrive in the AI era will be those that invest as heavily in workforce readiness as they do in technology. They will redesign work, build new skills, foster trust, and empower employees to embrace change.