CHROs Most Skeptical About AI Readiness, Even as C-Suite Pushes Ahead

HR Dive · United States · Aug 4, 2026

A Protiviti AI Pulse Survey finds a sharp disconnect between CHROs and other C-suite leaders on AI readiness: only 13% of CHROs strongly agree their companies' job designs are ready for AI, compared to 28% of executives overall. CHROs cite complexity in redesigning roles, compensation, and career paths as key barriers, and just 5% expect at least half of HR work to be AI-enabled within three years. Supporting data from ManpowerGroup and Indeed/YouGov reinforces the gap, with only 3% of senior talent leaders rating themselves 'highly prepared' to direct AI adoption and 43% of managers saying they feel poorly equipped to lead AI-capable workforces.