AI is giving HR chiefs a new job

In April 2026, Atlassian appointed Avani Prabhakar as chief people and AI enablement officer, overseeing 3,500 employees responsible for AI transformation across the company's 14,000 workforce. This follows a trend where HR leaders are taking on AI roles, as seen in Moderna and Lumen Technologies in 2025 and 2026 respectively. The role is becoming more critical as AI transformation is challenging not just the deployment of technology, but also reimagining work and workforce dynamics.

Traditional jobs are becoming less stable units of measure, as AI affects tasks differently, automating some and creating new, value-driven tasks for humans. Skills required by AI are evolving rapidly, making adaptability the most important quality for employees. Hiring should focus on this adaptability, not just credentials or experience.

Furthermore, the traditional approach of measuring talent by current skill proficiency is shifting towards how quickly one can learn new skills and adapt to changing job demands. The focus should be on understanding what work needs to be done, the capabilities required, and how humans and AI can work together to achieve this. This new approach in HR management could lead to changes in head count but should not be the primary goal.

Instead, the objective should be to redesign work by determining what AI should handle, what humans should do, and where oversight is necessary.