At the top of the CHRO agenda right now? Digitization and artificial intelligence deployment, according to a report released Friday by the CHRO Association and the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.
Of the 150 CHROs surveyed, 91% said AI and workplace digitization was the most immediate issue of concern, followed by leadership development and organizational transformation.
AI, in general, is reshaping the HR operating model, the report indicated, with many HR services shifting into self-service and automation as the HR role evolves to include tasks such as AI governance.
Notably, CHROs may be gaining prominence, The Conference Board said in a recent report, due in part to the pressure to lead this digital transformation. That prominence, including higher pay, indicates that people leaders are increasingly seen as key to managing enterprise risk.
However, CHROs also continue to face a paradox imposed by the demands of their companies, according to a 2025 report from The Josh Bersin Company. While organizations rely on HR to lead ongoing AI transformation alongside skill development and people strategy, CHROs often struggle to achieve the same recognition and resources given to other members of the C-suite, the report said.
While AI deployment continues, 47% of CHROs said their organizations haven’t established clear productivity measures yet. Those that have done so reported using a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Beyond AI, geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty top CHROs’ lists of the external pressures shaping their 2026 planning.