HR Will Be the Real Test of a CEO's AI Leadership
ET Edge Insights, Thursday, September 10th, 2026
AI in HR should automate activity but never accountability, making AI-led HR transformation a CEO-level agenda.
The author argues that HR, not sales or finance, may be the true test of a CEO's AI leadership because it touches hiring, pay, performance and job security directly.
AI can act as a catalyst across recruitment, payroll anomaly detection, compliance and employee support, but it cannot fix broken processes or fragmented data.
Leaders should start with the business problem, build a connected digital HR foundation, then layer AI on top. The future HR function should combine a digital foundation, AI for high-volume work, and a human layer that owns judgement, fairness, exceptions and culture.