HR Leaders How HR Can Lead the AI Shift in 2026
Sep 29, 2025
Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor, has a rich background in HR leadership at Google, Square, and Yahoo. In this discussion, he emphasizes the urgency for HR to lead AI adoption through Project NEIGHBOR, advocating for safe experimentation and collaboration. Bryan tackles the mental health crisis as a workplace injury and the complexities of hybrid work, stressing intentional in-person interactions. He predicts a future where AI personalizes employee experiences and warns against complacency in the face of rapid technological change.
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HR Must Lead AI Adoption
- Do make HR lead AI adoption instead of being a passive passenger in the change.
- Start small, communicate repeatedly, and enable experimentation with fast policy and tool approvals.
AI Enables More Satisfying Work
- AI will change the nature of work beyond simple automation and job cuts.
- Treat AI as an opportunity to make work more satisfying and transform workflows.
Unleash Safe Experimentation Quickly
- Do unleash safe experimentation: publish an evolving policy and fast-track tool approvals.
- Encourage leaders to set low initial goals and show momentum rather than waiting for perfection.
