HR Plays Critical Role in Leading Human Side of AI: New Report From McLean & Company
New research from global HR research and advisory firm McLean & Company explores HR's influence in shaping human-centric practices and enabling emerging technologies to drive organizational impact.
TORONTO, Oct. 5, 2026 /CNW/ -- As organizations move quickly to adopt AI and other emerging technologies, HR leaders are uniquely positioned to ensure technology decisions strengthen the human experience at work. That role is becoming more critical as speed, efficiency, and innovation reshape how work gets done. To help organizations close the gap between intention and action, McLean & Company announced the launch of its new report, The Power of Human-Centricity, live from day two of its flagship HR conference, McLean Signature 2026. The latest report from the global HR research and advisory firm provides HR leaders with a practical roadmap for intentionally embedding human-centricity into the design of work, decision-making, technology adoption, and HR service delivery.
Drawing on McLean & Company's Human-Centric HR in the Age of AI Survey 2026, the report identifies a clear gap between the level of human-centricity organizations believe they demonstrate and the extent to which they apply human-centric practices. The firm's data reveals that while 82.2% of organizations and 88.1% of HR teams believe they are human-centric, only 20% of HR teams consistently assess AI use cases for their impact on human-centricity before implementation. Left unaddressed, technology decisions made for speed and efficiency today can become tomorrow's trust, engagement, and retention challenges.
"Human-centricity cannot be treated as an assumed value while technology decisions are made somewhere else. It has to be an intentional practice embedded in how work is designed, how decisions are made, and how emerging technology is applied," says Kelly Berte, practice lead, HR Research & Advisory Services, at McLean & Company and one of the report's lead researchers. "This report is designed to help HR leaders move human-centricity from a stated priority to a practiced discipline, especially as AI and other technologies reshape the employee experience."
McLean & Company's The Power of Human-Centricity report outlines three connected areas where human-centricity is won or lost:
- Technology impacts, such as higher adoption rates, accelerated AI maturity, and reduced costly rework.
- People impacts, including a stronger sense of belonging, psychological safety, preserved agency, and empowerment.
- Organizational impacts, evident in sustained performance and growth, market competitiveness, and stronger retention and talent stability.
Structured as a practical roadmap, The Power of Human-Centricity report explores what human-centricity means in a world shaped by emerging technologies, examines how organizations and HR teams are navigating the current reality, clarifies HR's influence in embedding human-centric practices into decision-making, and provides guidance for reimagining HR service delivery in the age of AI.
"AI adoption is accelerating across organizations, and HR plays a pivotal role in ensuring the human element does not get lost along the way," says Amani Gharib, HR Research & Advisory Services Director at McLean & Company and one of the lead researchers behind the report. "The findings make clear that human-centricity is not a soft concept. It is a strategic lens that helps organizations build trust, strengthen performance, and make better technology decisions."
The firm's insights also highlight the business case for getting human-centricity right as organizations scale AI and automation. McLean & Company's HR Trends Report 2025 found that organizations whose executive leaders are highly proficient in human-centric competencies are 2.2 times more likely to be high performing at achieving strategic goals and objectives. The finding underscores the need for leaders to treat human-centricity as a measurable organizational capability that strengthens strategy execution, builds resilience, and prepares the workforce for change.
To explore McLean & Company's The Power of Human-Centricity report, including its research-backed framework, key findings, and guidance for putting human-centricity into practice, please visit the official report page.
Organizations seeking broader support can engage McLean & Company's advisory services to assess human-centricity, strengthen HR's influence in AI and technology decisions, and identify practical opportunities to align people, process, technology, governance, and data. For additional research, tools, and guidance, visit McLean & Company's HR Technology Resource Center.
Media seeking research-backed insights or commentary from McLean & Company experts on human-centricity, responsible AI adoption, HR's role in technology decision-making, workforce readiness, or the future of work can contact Senior Communications Manager Kelsey King at [email protected].
About McLean & Company
McLean & Company is a global HR research and advisory firm and trusted partner to people leaders navigating today's most pressing workforce challenges. Informed by its work with thousands of HR professionals and executives, the firm provides evidence-based research, diagnostics, practical tools, hands-on support, and services spanning advisory, learning, and coaching. From workforce strategy and leadership to culture, engagement, retention, and AI adoption, McLean & Company helps leaders move from direction to execution and deliver measurable results for their people and organizations.
McLean & Company is a division of Info-Tech Research Group.
Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].
SOURCE McLean & Company
Media Contact: Kelsey King, Senior Communications Manager, McLean & Company, [email protected]
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