Research to understand the impact of AI on jobs, skills and employer strategy is being lead by the CIPD.
Without this clarity, the CIPD warned that efforts to boost AI use in the UK could flounder.
The government backed project will examine the role of HR, organisational strategy, and people development in ensuring responsible, ethical and productive AI adoption. By understanding the people dynamic, the employer body said the findings can help employers bridge the gap between AI innovation and responsible use.
Findings from the research, which will be conducted in partnership with Innovate UK’s BridgeAI programme (part of UK Research and Innovation), will help shape frameworks for the ethical and responsible use of AI at work. It will also enhance employer understanding of skills and organisational development needs. The CIPD said its involvement highlights the vital role of HR in understanding and promoting the responsible use of AI at work.
How employers use AI
This new research will cover three workstreams and start with a project in partnership with the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW). This stream aims to build a deeper understanding of the processes of AI adoption, how AI is or could be used by organisations, and its impact on workers.
Researchers will interview HR leaders at organisations that are already using or considering implementing AI, as well as conducting employee surveys and workshops to gain insights into AI’s impact.
From these results, the project will develop practical tools and guidance for HR leaders to support AI adoption in their organisations. This work will also contribute to the CIPD’s profession map that sets out the knowledge and behaviours HR professionals need.
Later this year the employer body will invite HR professionals to take part in work with other BridgeAI partners to refine the framework for ethical and responsible AI adoption, and extend the AI skills framework.
Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said: “AI is accelerating rapidly and will impact jobs, careers and workplaces. We all need to ensure it is used responsibly and ethically, understanding the many benefits, but also risks.
“As with any new technologies, there are gaps between AI development and adoption within organisations. HR can play a central role in establishing how AI works together with people and how it shapes jobs for a future that not only is good for business performance, but also good for people.
“Our work on the BridgeAI programme will help us understand how organisations are learning about and adopting AI, the wider skills that will be needed across our workforces, and the frameworks and guidance that can help us all.”
Sara El-Hanfy, head of AI and machine learning at Innovate UK, said: “BridgeAI is proud to join forces with CIPD to champion the responsible adoption of AI in the workplace. This partnership aims to empower businesses with ethical AI frameworks and support their workforces in unlocking the full potential of this transformative technology, ensuring inclusive growth and innovation.”
Anna Thomas, founding co-director of IFOW, said: “This action-research project that we are conducting in partnership with the CIPD addresses a critical need in the AI adoption landscape. As organisations navigate the implementation of AI technologies, understanding the human impact and organisational dynamics is essential for responsible innovation.
“Through work, we will be gathering vital insights from HR leaders and employees that will help shape practical frameworks for ethical AI adoption. The research conducted in this partnership represents an important step in applying AI principles in practice, bridging the gap between AI’s potential and its responsible, effective and human-centred deployment in the workplace.”
