Can HR Build Trust in an Age of AI Uncertainty? [Newsletter #68]

Hello, AI enthusiasts from around the world.

Welcome to this week's newsletter for the AI and the Future of Work podcast.

Employees and their talent are what drive companies to success. Every organization should aim to be people-first, not as a slogan but as a genuine commitment.

That’s where HR leaders come in. Being people-first isn’t just about saying you care about employees. It’s about building a culture where leaders at every level embody that mindset.

Today’s conversation explores why this approach matters more than ever, especially in a world shaped by rapid technological change.

Let’s dive into this week’s highlights! 🚀

🎙️New podcast episode with Tracy Layney, Former CHRO of Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly

Humans will always be at the center of every company. Or at least, they should be.
That’s why HR has become one of the most challenging and essential areas in business.

Over the past five years, we’ve faced a global pandemic and an AI revolution that have reshaped nearly every aspect of work. Roles are evolving rapidly, opening new paths for creativity, collaboration, and growth across every level of the organization.

These changes have forced companies to confront deeper questions.
It’s now common to hear that “people are our most important asset”, but is that truly the case?

Tracy Layney isn’t convinced. She’s one of the most experienced and respected Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) in the world, having led people and culture at Levi’s, Gap, and Shutterfly. She also teaches Human Capital Strategy at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Tracy has seen how often companies talk about valuing talent, yet fail to act on it. So, what does it take to make this statement real?

Tracy sat down with PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin to share why HR leaders are essential in transforming company culture. 

For her, the role goes beyond managing people. It’s about inspiring others to believe that talent is a company’s most valuable asset.

The first step, she says, is building trust. That’s what guided her leadership during the pandemic. She began by protecting the company’s people. Uncertainty was everywhere, but she focused on keeping communication open. It’s fine to admit, “I don’t know.” It’s not fine to leave people in the dark.

This conversation explores these ideas and more:

• Predicting the future is nearly impossible, so leaders must embrace growth through constant learning.

• Tracy warns that if entry-level jobs disappear, we risk losing the formative experiences that shape who we are.

• AI may change how organizations look, but meaningful human contributions will remain at the center.

• Efficiency should never mean eliminating jobs. AI should elevate human-centric tasks, not replace them.

• HR leaders are under pressure like never before; AI disruption, evolving work cultures, mental health awareness, and global uncertainty. As Tracy puts it, they are “flying the plane while rebuilding it.”

🎧 This week’s episode of AI and the Future of Work, featuring Tracy Layney, inspired this issue.

Listen to the full episode to hear Tracy explain how AI and HR can evolve together, shaping a future where technology enhances humanity instead of replacing it.

📖 AI Fun Fact

One of the biggest conversations around AI right now is energy consumption. In some cases, AI-driven data centers powered by GPUs consume more electricity than entire nations like South Africa or Indonesia.

The challenge lies in a vicious cycle. To improve efficiency, we need better technology, and developing that technology currently requires more energy.

Finding a balance is more urgent than ever, as Kim Lokwon writes in The World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Series. Projections show that AI’s energy use could more than double from 260 terawatt-hours in 2024 to 500 terawatt-hours by 2027. A single ChatGPT query, for example, uses about 2.9kWh of electricity, roughly ten times that of a Google search.

So, what’s the path forward? Lokwon suggests that on-device AI could help reduce energy demand. The long-term solution will combine smarter technology with well-designed policy.

On the technology front, software optimization can help lower power use in servers. On-device AI, where processing happens locally instead of in a cloud data center, is especially promising.

On the policy front, Lokwon proposes a global “energy credit trading system” to incentivize companies to adopt low-power AI solutions. Businesses using energy-efficient AI could trade credits and benefit financially while reducing their environmental impact.

PeopleReign CEO Dan Turchin believes that AI services should be required to publish their energy requirements as human-readable digital labels, much like ingredients on food packages or energy consumption metrics on refrigerators and microwaves.

As consumers, we may or may not choose to read these labels. Most of us care about how AI consumes energy, if for no other reason than because it contributes significantly to what we pay. As with home solar, we might make different decisions about which vendors to use, or even when to consume AI, if energy demands weren't so opaque.

As consumer AI services become commoditized, Dan would like the equivalent of a monthly screen time report with a breakdown of his AI usage by service, cost, and energy consumption.

Listener Spotlight

Worth A Read📚

📣 Share your Thoughts and Leave a Review!

Until next time, stay curious! 🤔

That's a Wrap for This Week!

This week’s conversation reminded us that HR leaders face constant evolution, from navigating the pandemic to steering through the AI revolution reshaping how we work.

Through it all, their mission remains the same: to make people the true center of every organization, not just in words but in action.

Yet, the work doesn’t stop there. Leaders must also be learners, growing alongside technology and inspiring others to do the same.

We hope this week’s conversation encourages you to lead with empathy, curiosity, and a people-first mindset.

Until next time, keep questioning, keep innovating, and we’ll see you in the future of work 🎙️✨

If you liked this newsletter, share it with your friends!
If this email was forwarded to you, subscribe to our Linkedin’s newsletter here to get the newsletter every week.