HR Must Lead AI. Period.

The CPO of OpenAI and I are proof that HR can do it!

The Chief People Officer Who Built Her Own AI Tool

Here’s a story of how HR is owning Innovation!

This changes the whole HR vs. IT thing that has prevailed in the Corporate world for the longest time!

The Chief People Officer of OpenAI (yes, the ChatGPT company) loved a tool from her former company so much that she recreated it last week, all by herself!

This is HUGE - Think about it for a minute!

The CPO built an AI-powered HR tool - by herself, for herself. And this is someone who has access to some of the best software engineers in the world!

She didn’t delegate it.

No waiting. No “IT will do it.”

She vibe-coded it.

She showed us that adopting AI isn’t about being a tech wizard - it’s about being deeply connected to your work, your users, and your pain points.

It’s about having the curiosity to say, “There must be a better way.”

Familiar Storylines: HR vs. IT

I’ve worked with both HR and IT long enough to know what they really think of each other.

I still remember my very first day on a client project as a SAP consultant. The HR leader had somehow discovered that the analytics team had pulled HR data from the HRIS system without her knowledge - and she was furious.

She was yelling at them. I was quietly panicking.
All I could think was: “I have a tough client to deal with. Better have a strategy ready - LOL.”

But as I got deeper into the work, I realized something: many HR professionals are deeply nervous about their data and systems - and I don’t blame them.

Most didn’t enter the profession to mess around with integrations or APIs. They came for the people part. And suddenly, they’re expected to navigate dashboards, workflows, and now - AI?

The only reason I didn’t feel lost was because I had this weird, niche combination of HR and IT skills. I could act as a bridge and an interpreter. But not every HR professional has that.

And so the default becomes:

Let IT take care of it.

How I Helped My Team Get Started with AI

When I introduced AI to my own team, there was skepticism.

Some were curious. Most were cautious. A few were outright resistant. (Sound familiar?)

We started really small:

• Used ChatGPT to draft a Job Description!

• Polished Emails!

We are still doing small things, but consistently! And that’s where the shift started.

We have owned AI adoption! I have covered my AI journey in my article -

My AI Journey

Keep it fun and simple

The other day I did this:

I saw the “Action Figure” thing go viral on LinkedIn and I introduced a contest in HR:

I shared a prompt with them which you can grab too :)

Action Figure Generator Prompt

Sent a step by step guide and I shared this sample output with them.

And then - I was blown away by what the team came up with.

People got creative, competitive, and most importantly - curious.
A few even reached out to me afterward, asking for help signing up for AI tools.

That was exactly the goal.

Not to “implement AI”...
But to spark something.
To make AI feel approachable, playful, and possible.

Because here’s what I know:
You already have the world’s smartest people on your team. All they need is a little nudge.

My Team rebranded me!

Over time, I’ve become the go-to person on the team for anything AI - ideas, prompts, tools, or even fun discoveries.

And you know what?

My Team Rebranded me.
That’s right - I didn’t name myself The AI Lady.
My Team did.

And honestly? I wear it with pride.

Its been 2 years now in the making!

And that is why I am confident - with curiosity, creativity, and just a dash of play - we’re going to thrive in this new AI era.

What’s In It for You (Yes, You in HR!)

You might be wondering - what does this mean for me?

You have heard me say - HR should Lead AI.

HR should!

Learning AI is the most impactful personal development step a professional can take today!

How can HR claim to be responsible for Learning & Development while sitting on the sidelines when it comes to AI?

Here’s the thing: you don’t need to be a tech expert to start using AI.
You don’t need to build your own app (like the OpenAI CPO).
But what you can do is start small, start now, and start where it matters most - your work.

Here’s what’s in it for you:

• ✅ Save time on repetitive tasks like writing job descriptions, emails, or policies.

• 💡 Spark creativity in learning programs, internal comms, and engagement campaigns.

• 🚀 Gain confidence in navigating AI tools through real use - not theory.

• 🤝 Position yourself as a leader in shaping how AI is used ethically and meaningfully at work.

• 🙌 Empower your team to experiment, learn, and innovate - without waiting on IT.

You already have the instincts. You already know your people.

AI just gives you a new set of tools to amplify that impact.

Let’s stop waiting for permission - and start shaping what’s next.

I want to know if you all are curious about vibecoding? I am starting to dabble into it and will get into more details in a future article!

Stay Curious!