Hacking HR AI in HR Podcast. Episode 026. Guest: Matt Burns
Jun 26, 2025
Matt Burns discusses the revolutionary impact of AI on human resources, underscoring the need for clearly defined problems to harness its potential. He highlights the importance of human oversight to mitigate biases in AI initiatives. The conversation encourages HR professionals to evolve into designers of systems and values, maximizing AI’s benefits. By examining HR's technological history, they stress the significance of thoughtful design to address current organizational challenges and enhance workplace efficiency.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
AI Is Already Everywhere
- AI is already embedded across HR workflows, often invisibly powering scheduling, LMS, and chatbots.
- Organizations must decide whether to guide that adoption or react to shadow AI risks.
Define The Problem First
- Define the problem clearly before building AI solutions to avoid wasted investment.
- Ask who benefits, who is impacted, and whether the problem is urgent or just FOMO.
Middle Management Under Structural Pressure
- Middle managers face structural change as automation removes tactical work and elevates coaching and ambiguity.
- Many roles will be redefined or disappear, so equip remaining managers to coach and translate strategy.