Protiviti's fifth AI Pulse Survey reveals a growing disconnect within the C-suite as organizations accelerate artificial intelligence adoption. While most executives expect AI to deliver measurable business value over the next three years, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) remain the most cautious about whether their organizations are prepared for the workforce transformation required to achieve those outcomes.
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Protiviti has released findings from its fifth AI Pulse Survey, titled "The AI-People Conundrum: Learning to Lead, Not Lag," examining how organizations are preparing for the next phase of artificial intelligence adoption.
The research shows that although nearly 80% of executives expect AI to improve profitability and revenue growth over the next three years, HR leaders remain significantly more cautious about their organizations' ability to adapt their workforce for AI-driven change.
Unlike other C-suite executives, CHROs do not identify business value creation as AI's primary objective by 2029, reflecting a stronger focus on organizational readiness and workforce transformation.
According to the survey, HR leaders recognize the opportunities presented by AI but believe organizations still face significant challenges in preparing employees, redesigning roles, and developing future-ready skills.
Only 13% of CHROs strongly agree their organizations' job designs are AI-ready, compared with 28% across the broader C-suite.
Similarly, just 14% of CHROs strongly believe their organizations possess AI-ready learning capabilities, while IT executives expressed considerably higher confidence in both workforce learning and role readiness.
The survey also found that 82% of CHROs expect organizations to operate with a combined human and digital workforce by 2030, compared with 93% of other C-suite leaders.
Fran Maxwell, global leader, People & Change, Protiviti, said, "The survey reveals an important disconnect in the C-suite. Most leaders are focused on the value AI can deliver for the business. HR leaders are focused on whether their organizations and people are actually ready to deliver it. AI can create tremendous business value, but only if organizations invest appropriately in the non-technical aspects of AI transformation, including people enablement, operating model redesign, and process redesign."
The report indicates that executives expect AI adoption to expand rapidly across enterprise operations during the next three years.
Among surveyed executives:
Despite these expectations, approximately 60% of CHROs believe less than one-quarter of HR work will be AI-enabled within the next three years, reflecting ongoing concerns about scaling AI effectively across people-focused functions.
Protiviti's findings suggest that technology investments alone will not determine AI success. Instead, organizations must align workforce development, organizational design, and leadership strategies alongside AI implementation.
The report emphasizes that HR will play a central role in preparing employees for AI-enabled work, redesigning roles, developing new capabilities, and helping organizations maximize returns on AI investments.
Maxwell said, "AI transformation is ultimately a workforce transformation. Technology alone won't determine which organizations succeed. Capturing AI's full value will depend on leaders treating workforce transformation as a strategic priority alongside technology transformation. That starts with HR playing a leading role in shaping the roles, skills and organizational changes required to turn AI investments into business value."
As enterprises continue investing in AI initiatives, Protiviti's research highlights the importance of balancing technological innovation with workforce readiness to ensure long-term business success.
Protiviti is a global consulting firm that helps clients transform and protect their businesses, and respond to planned and unexpected events. Through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries, Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms deliver deep expertise and tailored capabilities across technology, artificial intelligence, data, operations, finance, legal, compliance, HR, marketing, digital, risk, and internal audit – enabling organizations to accelerate innovation, navigate risks and safeguard what matters most.
Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list since 2015, Protiviti Inc. has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half.
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