AI in HR: Why People Must Remain at the Heart of Decision-Making

AI in HR: Supporting Strategic Decisions Without Replacing Them

Artificial intelligence is increasingly part of HR functions, but its role should be to assist—not replace—human judgment in strategic decisions. At HR FutureFest, Dr. Kalifa Oliver, Global Director of Employee Experience Analytics Strategy at Ford Motor Company, emphasized the importance of keeping people at the core when integrating AI into HR.

HR has shifted from a transactional department to one that drives business outcomes. AI tools can enhance this evolution by providing data-driven insights that improve employee engagement and organizational effectiveness without taking over decision-making.

Enhancing Employee Experience with AI

The employee experience is about setting people up for success. AI can help by personalizing HR services and eliminating repetitive tasks, allowing HR to focus on creating a more inclusive and responsive work environment.

By using AI to capture real-time employee sentiment, HR can quickly understand preferences around benefits and workplace culture. Advanced analytics, such as natural language processing, can summarize large volumes of feedback rapidly, enabling faster, more informed decisions with less bias.

Keeping a People-Centered Approach

AI should streamline HR processes to free up time for strategic thinking. The critical question to ask before adopting AI is: what problem are we solving? Implementing AI without clear goals or on broken systems will not yield benefits.

Oliver advises that HR must understand current processes thoroughly before layering AI on top. A flawed system enhanced with AI is still flawed. The goal is to use AI to handle transactional tasks so HR professionals can focus on value creation.

Continuous Improvement and Human Oversight

AI tools require ongoing tuning and adaptation based on employee feedback. Since employee experience is effectively a product, HR must treat AI tools like any other product—listening to users and making necessary adjustments.

Human oversight remains essential. AI can generate insights, but humans must make the final decisions. Relying solely on AI decision-making risks failure and legal complications as regulations around AI continue to evolve.

Putting People First, Powered by AI

At its core, AI in HR must serve people. Automating repetitive tasks lets HR focus on strategic initiatives that improve employee experience. Ethical AI practices should uphold fairness, trust, and transparency at all times.

AI is a tool that amplifies human potential—not a substitute for human intelligence. When designed and managed with people in mind, AI can help HR professionals make better decisions and create more meaningful employee experiences.

For HR professionals interested in expanding their knowledge about using AI responsibly and effectively, exploring courses on AI tools and ethics can be a practical next step. Resources like Complete AI Training’s HR-focused courses offer actionable insights into integrating AI in people-centered ways.