Humans and Machines at Work: Redefining Strategic Human Resource Management in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Workforce Automation

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and workforce automation are rapidly integrating, fundamentally redefining strategic orientation of Human Resource Management (HRM) across industries. This manuscript studies how Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) is responding to these technological disruptions by examining the real world experiences of 15 HR professionals from technology, manufacturing and service sectors. Research using primary qualitative data from semi structured interviews identifies themes related to AI in deployment recruitment, employee performance management, ethical issues, employee re‐skilling and HRs evolving role. Results show organizations using AI tools to boost operational efficiency and decision making, but issues such as algorithmic bias, lacking transparency, ambiguous ethics and limited digital literacy within HR teams remain considerable. The study also points out sectoral disparities in AI readiness and organizational support that make AI prepared for successful SHRM transformation not solely technological infrastructure but an ethical governance, collaboration across functions and foresight. The paper contributes to the emerging discourse on human centered AI by interpreting these findings through a multidisciplinary lens, also arguing that this kind of balance in technological innovation needs to optimize for employee wellbeing and organizational values. Thus, this research highlights the need for proactive, inclusive and ethically driven SHRM frameworks during the AI era.