Building AI Readiness: A Practical Path for HR Leaders

Globally, the U.S. is the leader in AI infrastructure development but ranks 24th in adoption, despite more than three-quarters of organizations reporting they used artificial intelligence in some capacity in 2024. 

AI’s value is no longer in question — nearly 9 in 10 CEOs expect it to redefine how their organizations create and capture value in 2026, making AI adoption the top CEO priority, according to SHRM’s 2026 CEO Priorities and Perspectives report.

Yet, execution lags: Fewer than half of U.S. workers use AI today, and just 17% of HR professionals said their organizations’ AI implementation has been highly successful, according to SHRM’s From Adoption to Empowerment: Shaping the AI-Driven Workforce of Tomorrow report. Concern is high, but ownership is low — leaving many organizations stuck between ambition and adoption.

As AI accelerates across the enterprise, HR is increasingly expected to lead, upskilling the workforce so AI can be ​​used responsibly, effectively, and at scale. Leaders want efficiency, consistency, and smarter decisions. HR teams know AI matters. Fewer know where to start — or how to move from experimentation to impact. 

The result is a widening AI readiness gap. 

Without organizational upskilling, AI remains underused or — worse — risky. 

AI can be compared to a power tool. In the right hands, it amplifies skill and precision. In the wrong hands, it’s expensive noise. Buying a high-end drill doesn’t make someone a carpenter, just like deploying AI without knowledge doesn’t automatically create smarter workflows, better decisions, or more innovative teams. 

AI initiatives frequently fail for reasons unrelated to the technology itself. Trust erodes when employees fear job loss or lack confidence in how to use AI responsibly. Risk aversion slows progress when governance focuses solely on liability rather than enablement. Most often, organizations skip the foundational step that makes everything else possible: upskilling employees to understand when, how, and why AI should be used.​​​​​​ 

Successful AI execution doesn’t happen with the flip of a switch or a subscription to a tool. It’s a journey, and not every organization starts at the same place. 

The right approach depends on organizational readiness, available resources, and business goals. Some teams need foundational understanding. Others need exposure to real-world use cases. And some are ready to move beyond exploration and into execution at scale. 

Recognizing those differences and determining the appropriate solution is what turns AI investment into sustained progress rather than stalled pilots. 

Organizations don’t all start from the same place with AI, which is why building readiness requires different entry points depending on an organization’s readiness, skills, and goals. SHRM’s suite of AI solutions are designed to support that progression from foundational understanding to peer learning to hands-on execution at scale.

The SHRM AI+HI Specialty Credential is a structured entry point for HR professionals building foundational AI literacy.

Best for: HR teams new to AI or early in their adoption journey.

What it delivers:

• Practical AI literacy grounded in real HR use cases.
• Clear guidance on responsible use, ethics, and governance.
• Confidence to participate in informed AI conversations and decisions across the organization. 

The AI+HI Project empowers HR leaders and professionals to master AI while elevating human intelligence for strategic, ethical, and impactful workplace transformation.

Best for: HR leaders and teams looking to align on AI strategies, drive innovation, and implement people-centered AI solutions responsibly.

What it delivers:

• Hands-on experience with AI tools and frameworks for immediate application.
• Insights into ethical, legal, and effective AI implementation.
• Strategies to position HR as a driver of organizational innovation.
• Opportunities to collaborate with AI experts, HR innovators, and peers.

SHRM’s AI Enablement for HR program provides hands-on support for organizations ready to move from learning to execution at scale.

Best for: Teams prepared to operationalize AI and drive measurable impact.

What it delivers:

• An assessment to identify where AI can create the most value in the organization.
• A tailored road map aligned to business goals, data readiness, and workforce capability.
• Structured, staged guidance to embed AI into day-to-day work.