CHROs urged to step up and collaborate with CIOs amid AI transformation
Chief human resources officers (CHROs) are being urged to step up as chief information officers (CIOs) become "accidental talent leaders" due to lagging HR workforce planning processes amid rapid AI transformation.
CIOs are seeing expanded responsibilities beyond technology as workforce readiness, adoption, and organisational change become crucial parts of AI transformation, according to Gartner.
"As AI adoption expands, CIOs are increasingly responsible for workforce challenges they were never traditionally expected to own," said Rachel Juley, senior director analyst in the Gartner HR practice.
"CHROs must help their CIOs navigate workforce readiness, adoption and organisational change."
CHROs should embed HR expertise into fusion teams to address the workforce implications of AI in real time, according to Gartner. HR staff should coach these teams on how to use HR frameworks, such as skills maps and literacy programmes.
Role of CHROs in AI transformation
Asking CHROs to step up and assist CIOs is one of the main subjects of Gartner's HR Symposium/Xpo 2026 in London.
At the event, Juley also pointed out the problem of unclear ownership as AI adoption expands in organisations, involving executives responsible for AI, technology, and transformation.
The senior director analyst said CHROs need to create a unified view of shared areas of responsibility by formalising shared ownership of key enterprise capabilities.
People leaders should also measure success through shared indicators rather than function-specific metrics.
According to Juley, CHROs should position HR as a critical driver of AI value across four pillars:
- Co-pilot: Serve as an AI strategy partner
- Futurist: Lead workforce planning efforts
- Engineer: Drive workforce transformation
- Architect: Shape organisational design
Juley said success in AI transformation will depend on how effectively CHROs and CIOs collaborate to prepare the workforce.
She pointed out that CIOs tend to only focus on the "most visible AI costs," neglecting hidden workforce costs that can limit AI value realisation.
"The greatest risk for CHROs is being confined to supporting a transformation they should co-lead," Juley said. "The most influential CHROs in the AI era will not be remembered as workforce leaders, but as architects of enterprise transformation."
