How to prepare for a human + AI workforce

The last generation to manage only humans

We are the last generation to manage only humans. As AI shifts from back-end automation to front-line teammate through AI agents, leaders must redesign not only how work gets done, but who (or what) gets it done.

This is a human + AI workforce. But most organizations aren’t ready for that equation.

Leaders must find what it takes to build a workforce that thrives in this dual reality: how to redesign roles, upskill people, prepare AI agents, rethink workflows, and ensure HR and IT are aligned in a shared workforce strategy.

Why we need to prepare a human + AI workforce

The traditional workforce model wasn’t built for this moment. For decades, talent strategy assumed that work = jobs + people. Even as technology has revolutionized work in the 20th and 21st centuries, these drive incremental increases in the productivity of people. In this way, predictive and generative of AI has impacted work in similar ways as previous technology. However, when we consider agentic AI, not just as a tool to be used by humans, but as a new kind of ‘independent’ contributor on teams, this can exponentially add work output.

The initial steps in many organizations have been to “bolt on” AI to existing structures. A chatbot for HR service tickets. A recommendation engine for learning. A virtual assistant for scheduling.

But this approach is just the tip of the iceberg. As agentic AI matures, it will redefine how work happens, who does what, and how capacity is scaled across your business. While the technology is still in its infancy both in terms of maturity and adoption, leaders must get out in front of broader considerations required to take advantage of this new work equation.

Rethinking talent models in a human + AI world

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about replacing humans with AI. (Although certainly some jobs will be eliminated, many will change, and others created.) It’s about a shift where AI handles repeatable tasks, so humans can apply more of their uniquely human skills.

That nuance matters. Because for decades, workforce planning revolved around headcount and task execution. Now, leaders must think in terms of dual capability: what can AI do well, and what do we need humans to do better?

That means rethinking:

• Roles: What’s the ideal division of labor between humans and AI agents?

• Teams: How do people and digital teammates collaborate?

• Structures: How do you plan for capacity, not just headcount?

Think of this as a new kind of workforce architecture where the core building blocks are:

• Human skills (judgment, communication, empathy)

• Agent capabilities (speed, precision, recall)

• Systems that enable collaboration between both

Examples in action:

• L&D: AI agents manage assignments and compliance tracking. Human leaders focus on content strategy and engagement.

• Sales: AI surfaces relevant playbooks and objection-handling techniques. Reps use emotional intelligence to build trust and close deals.

• HR: AI identifies attrition risk or skills gaps. Managers apply coaching and development strategies to retain talent.

• Evolving workflows in real time, based on inputs and outcomes

Prepare people and agents in parallel

Building a human + AI workforce means developing both sides of the equation.

Like employees, AI agents need to be trained, tested, and governed. They need contextual instruction, compliance monitoring, and feedback loops to improve.

Cornerstone’s AgentReady approach defines what it means for AI agents to be truly “workforce ready”, from privacy and bias checks to embedded context from labor market and enterprise data.

At the same time, humans must be equipped to work with AI.

That’s where AI fluency comes in. At Cornerstone, we support side-by-side development of both humans and AI agents through:

• Role-based AI fluency programs (from GenAI awareness to advanced prompt design)

• Context-aware agent training (aligned to systems, workflows, and internal policies)

• Simulations and virtual coaching to prepare both agents and employees for real-world collaboration

Because in a dual workforce, both sides need confidence, context, and capability.

Evolve your talent strategy for a dual workforce

If your workforce includes both people and AI agents, your talent strategy needs to reflect that.

That means evolving:

• Workforce planning: Combine headcount with digital capacity. Plan for both roles and responsibilities.

• Talent development: AI fluency and human skill-building both need dedicated investment.

• Performance measurement: Not just output per person, but outcomes per team, including agents.

It also means prioritizing development for what makes people irreplaceable: empathy, critical thinking, adaptability, and leadership. AI can augment, but it can’t replace the core of what makes people valuable.

HR + IT as co-architects of transformation

Humans + AI workforce is an enterprise transformation and demands new collaboration across silos, especially between HR and IT.

HR brings:

• Insight into roles, skills, and development needs

• Strategies for change management and workforce readiness

• Fluency in human development

IT brings:

• Data infrastructure and system integration

• Security, compliance, and governance

• AI tooling, vendor management, and measurement

Together, they must co-own:

• Agent readiness: Training and monitoring digital teammates

• Use case alignment: Connecting AI tools to strategic talent goals

• Data integration: Using internal + external signals to guide decision-making

This partnership goes beyond collaboration and becomes a shared ownership of a new operating model. That means building joint roadmaps for AI adoption, designing agent lifecycle processes that mirror employee development, and establishing shared KPIs that track both business outcomes and workforce readiness. HR and IT must speak a common language, aligning systems of record with systems of engagement, and ensuring that AI tools are embedded in workflows, not bolted on. This will require a new workforce design and planning skills for CIOs, and AI and technology proficiency from CHROs, but this will be the new model for workforce design.

Leading change: Get human buy-in for an AI future

No AI transformation succeeds without people. As much as this is about technology or even new ways of working, it’s also about trust. Leaders must engage their workforce early, show what’s in it for them, and create safe environments to learn, experiment, and grow.

That includes:

• Clear communication about how AI will augment jobs

• Training and tools that make AI practical, not theoretical

• Transparency in how agents work and where decisions still require human judgment

• Recognition and rewards for those who lead the way

Change management is the connective tissue between your tech roadmap and your workforce reality.

Where to start: Practical next steps

You don’t need to do everything at once. But you do need to start.

Here’s where to begin:

• Audit your workflows: What’s repeatable? What needs human judgment?

• Identify priority use cases: Where can AI drive measurable impact?

• Build AI fluency in critical roles: Leaders, managers, frontline teams

• Pilot agent + human workflows: Start small, measure impact, scale what works

• Update workforce plans: Consider both human and AI capacity in your forecasts

Final thought: This is the workforce you’re building now

We are only at the start of AI disruption. Comparatively, we are in the dial-up internet days when we were wowed by email, and had no concept of the radical change things like eCommerce, social media, and mobile data would have on daily life. As AI, and particularly agentic AI, moves at an unprecedented rate, HR, IT, and business leaders need to begin considering how to redesign work, develop human capability, and prepare both people and AI agents to thrive together.

AI will expand what’s possible. Humans will still determine what’s valuable. Let’s build a workforce that brings out the best in both.

Want to learn more about how Cornerstone can help you build a human + AI workforce? Read more about our latest announcements on AgentReady AI, AI fluency programs, and skills-based workforce intelligence.