State of HR Summit: Keeping Humans at the Center of an AI-Driven Workplace

Photo courtesy of Sprout Solutions

Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines – The State of HR Summit, co-presented by Sprout Solutions and BS Works, and supported by TechShake as an official media partner, brought together HR leaders, executives, and managers to explore the future of the workplace. Led by industry-leading executive speakers, the summit examined the use of AI in the workplace, what high-performing organizations are doing differently, and how to build future-ready leadership capabilities to manage AI-enabled teams. Ultimately, the event framed AI as a tool to reinvent leadership, redesign work, and build trust. 

Photo courtesy of Sprout Solutions

Kislay Chandra, Chief Operations Officer of Sprout Solutions, opened the session by exploring HR’s evolving role in AI transformation. He emphasized that AI is not a novelty, but a powerful technology that can change our lives in a meaningful way and have a positive impact —provided we take charge of how we introduce that change.

Photo courtesy of Sprout Solutions

In exploring the human side of AI transformation, Cliff Eala, CEO of BS Works, delivered a  keynote presentation on navigating this technological shift. Eala emphasized the concept of complementarity, explaining that the value of AI skills multiplies when paired with existing human expertise. 

Amid this rapid transformation, he highlighted the importance of sharpening judgment. Because AI operates under conditions of uncertainty and relies heavily on external data, critical human decision-making remains vital. Ultimately, Eala argued that we cannot outsource our thinking to AI; we must continue to strengthen our own critical thinking and evaluation skills. 

Ensuring AI acts as a tool rather than a replacement for human judgment remains an important priority for leadership. When asked how companies can protect human decision-making, particularly in sensitive HR facets, such as hiring and performance management, Atty. Jay-Ryan Trinidad, Vice President for Legal and People Operations of Sprout Solutions, noted during a roundtable discussion that management must establish clear, human-set policies with the use of AI. 

"Most importantly, part of that policy is to ensure that decision-makers are accountable and transparent," Trinidad emphasized. He defined this transparency as "making everyone in the organization aware of how a particular AI tool is being used," while also clearly defining "who will be responsible for the errors of technical hallucinations by AI."

Additionally, Trinidad highlighted that Sprout Solutions aligns its technology with essential business standards. He emphasized that principles like privacy, transparency, and confidentiality must guide the selection of any AI tool. This standard is critical, he noted, because organizations are ultimately relying on external technology.

"At the end of the day, these are just third-party developers," Trinidad stated, reinforcing the need for strict compliance standards.

Photo courtesy of Sprout Solutions

Later in the summit, panel discussions centered on managing human performance in an AI-driven workplace, offering insights into how organizations lead AI-enabled teams and strengthen leadership capabilities—alongside a dedicated panel on the mission-critical skills, roles, and teams needed for the next era.

During a Q&A session on a human skill every organization should prioritize to stay competitive in the age of AI, Cliff Eala pointed to critical thinking as an irreplaceable skill. "This skill is needed most when you have untimely, incomplete, or inaccurate information," Eala explained, adding that the ability to think critically is what ultimately "keeps the human in the loop."

Photo courtesy of Sprout Solutions

Concluding the event, Renzo Belardo, Chief Marketing Officer of Sprout Solutions, urged leaders to redesign their strategies to ensure their organizations can thrive in an AI-native future. He pointed out that the challenge is not in adopting AI itself, but rather helping people transition to a new way of working, a process where HR plays a crucial role in leading this organizational change 

Ultimately, as AI continues to reshape the future of work, the summit served as a powerful reminder that humans must remain at the core of this technological evolution. While machines can optimize processes, they cannot replicate essential human traits—most notably, critical thinking. Keeping people at the center of this transformation is not just a strategy, but a necessity.