HR Must Lead Agentic AI Strategy, Not Follow It

As AI agents join the workforce, HR leaders must shape deployment before it happens.

HR Solution Journal News Desk

Editorial illustration: A painterly editorial illustration shows a close-up of a human hand in a suit sleeve holding a conductor's baton extended toward rows of white humanoid robots seated in an orchestra formation, holding brass and string instruments under warm golden spotlight against a dark background.

AI-generated editorial illustration.

When AI agents execute tasks, make decisions and interact with customers autonomously, they effectively become workforce members, raising questions IT is not equipped to answer. According to Criteria Corp Chief People Officer Jillian Phelan, HR must help define agent roles and accountability structures before deployment, not after. Phelan argues HR should treat agents similarly to employees: establishing scope, performance expectations and offboarding plans. HR also owns bias oversight, employee reskilling and transparent communication about which tasks shift to agents and which responsibilities remain human. Phelan says the goal is maximizing human capacity, not headcount reduction.

Source: HR Daily Advisor. Original announcement: October 07, 2026.