Each week, as SHRM’s executive in residence for AI+HI, I scour the media landscape to bring you expert summaries of the biggest AI headlines — and what they mean for you and your business.
1. Under President Donald Trump, AI Scientists Are Told to Remove ‘Ideological Bias’ from Powerful Models
What to Know:
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued new guidelines for AI researchers. The updated policy removes references to “AI safety,” “responsible AI,” and “AI fairness” while prioritizing the reduction of “ideological bias.” The updated policy also eliminates requirements for content authentication and misinformation tracking. These changes come amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to deregulate AI and focus on U.S. competitiveness. Critics warn that removing fairness and safety measures could lead to unchecked bias in artificial intelligence models.
Why It Matters:
HR leaders should be aware of shifting AI governance priorities and the impact they could have on workplace AI applications, hiring algorithms, and compliance standards. Without built-in safeguards, companies will need to take greater responsibility for monitoring AI-driven decision-making to ensure ethical and unbiased outcomes. Organizations should prepare for regulatory uncertainty and potential legal challenges related to AI bias.
2. OpenAI’s Proposals for the US AI Action Plan
What to Know:
OpenAI has submitted policy recommendations to the White House, emphasizing AI innovation, national security, and infrastructure development. The proposals include lighter AI regulations to encourage innovation, an export control strategy to promote U.S. AI globally while restricting access to adversarial nations, and a copyright framework that balances content creator rights with AI’s need for training data. OpenAI also advocates for government investment in AI infrastructure and workforce readiness, aiming to modernize energy grids and create AI-driven job opportunities.
Why It Matters:
Preparing employees for AI-driven roles through upskilling and ethical AI oversight will be essential as AI policy evolves. SHRM also provided recommendations to the White House emphasizing these priorities, including the need for public-private partnerships to deliver AI training, a unified federal standard for regulatory clarity to encourage responsible AI adoption, and robust privacy frameworks to safeguard employee data. SHRM is committed to working alongside the administration to ensure that AI’s integration into the workplace promotes innovation, economic growth, and opportunity for all workers.
3. Anthropic CEO Predicts AI Will Take Over Coding in 12 Months
What to Know:
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts that within a year, AI will write nearly all software code, with 90% of coding tasks becoming automated in the next three to six months. He acknowledges concerns about job displacement but argues that, for now, human engineers are still needed to define AI’s design and limitations. Amodei’s statement aligns with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s claim that AI will soon perform mid-level engineering tasks.
Why It Matters:
If AI significantly reduces the need for human coding, HR leaders must rethink workforce planning, upskilling, and talent strategies. Additionally, they need to consider new roles focused on AI oversight, validation, and strategic implementation.
4. The State of AI: How Organizations Are Rewiring to Capture Value
What to Know:
Organizations are redesigning workflows, strengthening AI governance, and mitigating risks to maximize generative AI’s value. A McKinsey survey finds that more than 75% of companies use AI, with larger organizations moving faster. Of the AI adopters surveyed, 21% have redesigned workflows and 28% reported CEO oversight of AI governance, linking leadership involvement to financial impact. While AI adoption is increasing, only 1% of companies describe their AI deployments as mature, signaling early-stage implementation challenges.
Why It Matters:
HR leaders must drive AI workforce adaptation by ensuring employees reskill, integrate AI into workflows, and navigate governance changes. With AI shifting job roles, soft skills, adaptability, and strategic workforce planning will be key. As AI governance moves to C-suite and board-level oversight, HR will play a critical role in talent strategy, ethics, and compliance to ensure responsible AI adoption.
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