HR for AI: Conceptualizing the Role of the Human Resources function in AI adoption

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, HRM, HR

Abstract: The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) calls for more than technological capability. AI adoption and optimization of its capabilities require organizations to revisit the way they engage with work, workers, and the workplace- three critical domains of HR. We argue that this multilevel impact evokes an exigent and strategic response from the HR function: lead AI adoption in organizations. We identify HR priorities that rise to prominence in the process of preparing the organization for AI adoption. Implementing these priorities, however, renders latent tensions in the HR function salient. Therefore, we highlight the tensions the HR function will deal with during the process of preparing organizations to adopt AI effectively