Despite artificial intelligence’s vast potential, few organizations are approaching it strategically. Only 18% have moved beyond the incorporation phase and are generating value from it (McLean & Company HR Trends Report 2025). According to a report from Boston Consulting Group, 48% of respondents indicated that obstacles to successful AI integration stem from fear of and resistance to AI, including generative AI, potentially impacting jobs. This is because organizations prioritize addressing technological issues over human-related concerns, neglecting the critical need to manage the human aspect of AI adoption.
So, how can organizations truly reap the benefits of AI and see a return on their investment? By shaping and sustaining a human-centric culture that empowers employees, fosters collaboration, and builds strong relationships to drive the achievement of desired organizational outcomes.
Culture: The Foundation for AI Implementation
An overlooked but critical element in the success of any strategic implementation, and in particular AI implementation, is organizational culture. This invisible force holds everything together, ensuring alignment between values, behaviors, and initiatives with the organization’s vision. You may wonder, what type of culture creates an environment where AI can thrive? There isn't one specific type of culture that enables AI, but successful organizations have certain elements in common. Successful organizations prioritize employee development through trust, innovation, and openness. Trust creates a psychologically safe environment that encourages employees to take risks and innovate without fear of negative consequences. Innovation thrives when new ideas are welcomed and explored. Openness ensures transparent communication and collaboration, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose within the organization.
By cultivating a culture that emphasizes these elements, organizations equip their workforce with the foundation needed to leverage AI effectively. This approach minimizes fear and resistance, positioning the organization to reap the benefits of AI and drive successful outcomes.
The Impact of AI on Collaboration and Relationship Building
While a supportive culture is essential for AI implementation, it is equally important to consider how AI itself affects organizational dynamics. Overreliance on AI can hinder collaboration and relationship building, which are crucial for shaping a culture of trust, innovation, and openness. However, when used thoughtfully, AI can:
- Enhance collaboration: AI enables effective collaboration and information sharing when it is integrated with platforms like Teams and Zoom. It brings several benefits through its capabilities for translating and transcribing in real time, generating meeting summaries and task assignments, and connecting team members across virtual and hybrid work environments. With these capabilities, AI helps overcome language barriers, facilitates clear communication, and enables team members to collaborate across time and regions.
- Improve relationship building through inclusivity and accessibility: AI tools with accessibility features, such as speech-to-text and cognitive assistance tools, create a more inclusive and accessible workplace. This inclusivity ensures that all employees feel a sense of belonging and can participate fully in workplace activities, reinforcing trust, openness, and innovation within the organization.
HR as a Strategic Partner in the AI Era
AI is transforming how we collaborate and build relationships. It is time HR steps up into the role of a strategic partner alongside IT and digital transformation teams in shaping a culture conducive to and supportive of AI adoption. Thoughtfully integrating AI into the organization with a human-centric approach creates an environment where human-to-technology collaboration thrives. This approach ensures that employees develop alongside the organization, minimizing fear and resistance while strengthening their human connections rather than diminishing them.
Works Cited
de Bellefonds, Nicolas, et al. “Where’s the Value in AI?” Boston Consulting Group, Oct. 2024. Accessed April 2025.