AI in HR requires leadership from the top, SHRM CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. Asserts
At the inaugural Global Conference on Human Resources in Africa (GCHRA), currently underway at Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., President and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), delivered a powerful call for organizations to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Human Resources.
However, Taylor underscored that the initiative must begin at the very top of the corporate ladder to foster enduring change.
Addressing a diverse group of international leaders from sectors including business, policy, and technology, Taylor highlighted that AI integration in HR cannot merely be viewed as another departmental program but requires a commitment from CEOs, presidents, and senior executives to shape organizational culture effectively. “This can’t be an HR program and initiative. We are facilitating it, encouraging it, but it has to come from the top,” Taylor explained, stressing the cultural impact AI can have within a workforce.
Dr. Francis Eduku, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management (CIHRM), echoed Taylor’s sentiments, pointing out that AI will play an increasingly central role in shaping the future of people management. He urged HR practitioners to embrace AI and prepare employees for the transformative changes it will bring. “Whether we like it or not, AI will always play a critical role in people management,” Eduku noted, emphasizing the need for proactive training to equip workers with the knowledge necessary to harness AI’s potential.
The conference, under the theme “A Global Discourse on Exploring the Emergence and Dynamics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Resource Technologies in Africa,” brings together leading HR and business minds from across the globe. Other notable speakers include David Ssegawa, Group HR Director at Equity Bank Limited, and Dr. Najat El Mahdy from the Qatar Financial Centre Regulation Authority.
Day Two will feature a Business Executives and HR Roundtable, along with sessions such as the Women in HR Technology panel, moderated by Hannah K-Nyande, and a strategic HR breakout led by John Bernatovicz, Founder of Willory.
The event is seen as a critical milestone in redefining HR’s role in Africa’s AI-driven future, with calls to action that aim to shape HR practices in the region for years to come.