Gartner: CHROs Must Improve AI Literacy

According to research from Gartner, while 46% of managers are experimenting with AI to improve their work, only 26% of employees say the same. 

The survey also revealed that less than half of managers reported that AI has lived up to their expectations when it came to improving the work of their teams. 

To improve AI literacy across teams, Gartner recommends that CHROs work closely with managers and senior leaders to develop specific use cases for the technology and ensure employees are effectively redeployed. 

Carmen von Rohr, Senior Principal in the Gartner HR practice says of the research: “CHROs are under pressure to ensure effective workforce usage of AI tools, but they have overrelied on empowering employees to chart their own exploration of AI.”

“Thus far, HR has largely focused on empowering employees to explore, learn and innovate with AI and have overlooked the role of the manager in driving effective use of AI tools.”

Building an AI toolbox

Despite investments in AI surging – with hyperscalers reportedly spending more than US$500bn on AI in 2026 – 88% of HR leaders have reported to Gartner that their organisations are yet to realise significant business value from AI tools. 

To combat this, Gartner recommends that people leaders prepare managers with a “toolbox” that allows them to best integrate AI into their employees' work. 

According to Gartner, as managers' support needs will vary by their function and team composition, HR leaders will need to work closely with them to ensure they have the tools in place to smoothly deploy the technology. 

“Managers must find a balance – ensuring they don’t lose trust and confidence with their teams while also translating the benefits of AI they observe into the value narratives senior leaders and the business desire,” Carmen says. 

The AI growth opportunity

Those who do successfully implement AI in their organisations could see significant growth, with research from McKinsey finding that high performing companies are using AI to drive growth, innovation and reduce cost. 

NVIDIA is one such company. In February, it announced a quarterly revenue up 73% from the previous year, due to its dominance in the AI space. 

CEO Jensen Huang has advocated for widespread use of the technology, telling attendees at the Miken Institute's Global Conference that he believes AI “is probably our best way to increase the GDP”. 

Jensen has also described managers who limit their teams’ use of AI within NVIDIA as “insane”, saying in a meeting reported on by Business Insider: “I want every task that is possible to be automated with AI to be automated with AI. I promise you, you will have work to do.”

Employee skills development

As teams increase their use of AI, Gartner’s research suggests while tasks are being sped up, many organisations are unsure of how to use their excess time. According to Gartner, just 7% of organisations provide guidelines on how to use time saved by AI. 

Carmen says: “Most organisations are currently only seeing employees save small and fractured blocks of time through the use of AI. 

“This will change as the technology evolves. Once employees are saving significant blocks of time through AI use, that saved time will need to be effectively redeployed.”

The research suggests that CHROs work closely with their employees on how to identify growth driving activities they can do to develop – such as looking at potential skills to aid career progression.