The Human Element

At this year’s UNLEASH America conference in Las Vegas, the future of work wasn’t hypothetical—it was unfolding in real time. Over three days of discussions, one thing was clear: The AI revolution has arrived, and HR is at the center of it.

The momentum and urgency around AI are undeniable. Adoption is accelerating, and leaders showed up eager to learn, ask critical questions, and bring actionable insights back to their organizations.

Here are six key themes that emerged.

1. AI Is Transformative—But People Are Still the Point

In his keynote, Josh Bersin delivered what felt like a rallying cry: “AI is the only technology I’ve ever seen that actually completely transforms the way the company operates.”

But he reminded us the real story isn’t about tech. “People will be a major part of the AI revolution,” Bersin said, and HR will play a very important role in the adoption of the technology.

As David Green, Managing Partner at Insight222, said at the UNLEASH Talent Summit, “It might be a bit of a paradox, but as we become more technical, as we get more technology, actually, human skills are becoming even more important.”

2. Stay in the Donut: A Framework for Responsible AI

MIT professor and physicist Max Tegmark argued that we don’t need Artificial General Intelligence, AGI, to drive real business value today—we need controllable, human-directed AI tools. Onstage, he shared a Venn diagram showing how most useful AI, even the most advanced models, falls outside the center of the diagram. “Virtually nothing we want from AI requires AGI,” he said. “Stay in the donut.”

3. Empowerment Through Co-Creation: HR and IT at the Center of AI Strategy

Atlassian’s Chief People Officer Avani Prabhakar said, “HR and IT are the most strategic functions in the organization right now.” 

She emphasized the importance of HR leaders strengthening their C-suite relationships and earning their seats as trusted advisors, bringing forward insights and perspectives that help businesses reframe challenges and uncover new solutions.

4. Leadership Must Be Reimagined, Not Just Retooled

As Phillips 66 CHRO Andrez Carberry put it, “Leadership is not a rung on a career ladder. It is a true responsibility.”

Microsoft CPO Amy Coleman urged a move beyond traditional change management toward true “change readiness,” with coaching at the center. She called 2025 “the year of the coach,” framing the shift not just as a matter of skills, but of mindset.

5. Rethink Talent Strategy Through the Lens of AI

At the AI Summit, Mercer’s Jason Averbook challenged the room: “If you’re not learning a new AI tool every day, you’re falling behind in this space.”

HR leaders also talked about the disparity in approach to AI education across the globe. While China and the UAE are investing heavily in AI education, the U.S. still treats it like an extracurricular. The gap is widening, and not just in access to tools, but in mindset, too.

Meanwhile, companies face the unprecedented complexity of managing five generations in the workforce—each with vastly different expectations and comfort levels with tech. One HR leader challenged their peers to account for the "hidden adaptability" employees already show in their personal lives, using AI tools without hesitation. How can that same ease be brought into the workplace?

6. The CHRO Role Is Expanding (and Becoming Less Well-Defined)

As one senior HR leader put it: “The CHRO is the only C-suite role with constantly shifting responsibilities.”

HR is being asked to weigh in on geopolitics, public health, social justice, and AI governance—all while navigating the AI revolution. What was once a functional seat is now a strategic one, with blurred lines and moving goalposts.

With that comes existential questions. One of them: Are we still “Human Resources” when we’re leading a workforce composed of humans and agents? Microsoft’s recent report on the “Frontier Firm” explores these hybrid teams, where intelligence is on tap, and human-AI collaboration becomes the norm. It’s no longer theoretical. It’s happening now.

From Reaction to Reinvention

UNLEASH America 2025 left no room for neutrality. This isn’t about doing what we’ve always done, faster. It’s about redefining what work is, who does it, and why.

The future belongs to those who are willing to reimagine it. And HR has the power to lead this shift.

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