Chief AI officers arrive in C-suites

In a new era of AI acceptance, Fortune 500 Chief People Officers are advocating for a complete overhaul of traditional organizational structures. Stacy Dillow, HPE's executive vice president and chief people officer, emphasized that the challenge lies not in experimenting with AI technology, but in reimagining how work gets done and the structures that support it. "We have to force ourselves to think differently," she stated, as AI becomes an everyday part of corporate operations.

Danielle Gonzalez, chief people officer at Palo Alto Networks, has witnessed this shift in action. The company has introduced AI tools like NotebookLM, Claude, and Gemini for employees to explore, and a custom AI agent that managed 83% of IT tickets, reducing the need for direct human intervention. This has allowed employees to self-serve and find answers to their questions independently.

To thrive in this AI-driven workforce, individuals must unlearn outdated processes and embrace adaptability. Companies are focusing on hiring for these qualities, looking for candidates who demonstrate curiosity, agency, and the ability to learn rapidly, as well as the willingness to unlearn what they once believed to be true. At Palo Alto Networks, this involves reevaluating hiring processes.

Instead of focusing solely on candidates' past achievements, the company now conducts "observable interviews" and hackathons to assess their problem-solving skills with and without AI assistance.

For existing employees, the responsibility lies in taking ownership of their skill development. Companies provide the necessary tools and training, but ultimately, individuals must upskill themselves. Drew Holler, chief human resources officer at Lennar, a $19 billion homebuilder, underscored this point: "We're going to give you all the tools, but it's your responsibility to upskill yourself as well."

This transformation demands that both new hires and existing employees embrace a mindset of continuous learning and adaptation in the face of AI's growing influence in the workplace.