💡How I Use AI in HR (and What Still Needs Me)

💡How I Use AI in HR (and What Still Needs Me)

HR isn’t just about policies and paperwork. It’s about people, pressure, and making the right call under tight timelines. It’s guiding employees through change, helping leaders make smart decisions, and trying to get it all done without burning out.

Over the past year, I’ve started using AI to support my HR work, not to replace me, but to support me. These tools help me work faster, think more critically, and show up more prepared. But at the end of the day, the human side of HR still belongs to me.

Here are 5 real ways I’ve been using AI in my consulting and leadership work—plus what I still need to do to make sure it all lands with clarity, strategy, and compassion.

🎙️ 1. Recording Presentations

Back in the day:
Recording audio for a presentation used to take me days. One time, it took almost 40 hours, because I was doing it for the first time, teaching myself how to use a professional mic and I lived near a train station. Every time a train passed; the mic picked it up. I’d pause, re-record, rewind, repeat. Annoying.

Today with AI:
Now I use AI-powered tools to create clean, consistent voiceovers. I can add audio to a benefits presentation in minutes and still control the tone and pacing.

Still Me:
Make sure the tone feels right for the audience. AI gives me speed, but I still adjust the pacing, clarity, and even word choice to make sure it lands like a real person is speaking—not a robot reading a script.

🧾 2. Creating Policy FAQs

Back in the day:
I’d spend hours writing a policy, then spend hours anticipating every possible employee question, writing the answers, editing the language, and trying to make it understandable for everyone.

Today with AI:
Once I’ve drafted the policy (with the help of AI), I ask it to generate a list of frequently asked questions that employees might have.

Still Me:
Tailor the answers for tone, culture, and clarity. I still rewrite anything that’s too vague, too corporate, or not aligned with how we talk to our teams.

📚 3. Researching State Labor Laws

Back in the day:
Researching labor laws across states meant hours of reading state government sites, outdated PDFs, and sketchy blog posts that may or may not be credible. Compliance was a spreadsheet nightmare.

Today with AI:
I quickly compare paid leave laws, wage requirements, and handbook must-haves based on company size and state location. It gives me a head start and saves a ton of time.

Still Me:
Validate everything. I always double-check sources, flag inconsistencies, and make sure we’re not just compliant—but aligned with company values and strategy.

📄 4. Comparing Medical Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs)

Back in the day:
I used to print two SPDs (500+ pages), grab a highlighter and a large coffee, and manually compare plans line by line. I'd track everything in Excel and hope I didn’t miss an important change buried in footnote 47.

Today with AI:
I upload both documents into an AI tool and ask for a summary of the key differences. It gives me a clear, easy-to-read comparison in table format—so helpful.

But I still have to:
Figure out what it means for employees. AI can tell me the deductible changed from $2,000 to $3,000, but I still need to assess the impact, communicate it clearly, and anticipate the questions employees and leaders will have. The context—and the conversation—still depends on me.

🗂️ 5. Prepping for Audits & Compliance Checklists

Back in the day:
Prepping for audits meant hours digging through folders, policies, emails, and outdated spreadsheets. It was chaotic and inefficient.

Today with AI:
I use AI to generate initial checklists and prep steps for audits like FMLA, ACA, or EEOC compliance. It helps me stay organized and reduce the last-minute scramble.

Still Me:
I customize the checklist based on how the organization actually operates—what systems we use, who owns what, and what still needs legal review. AI gives me the frame, but I still build the full house.

Strategic Takeaways

AI tools aren’t shortcuts—they’re strategic support. Here’s how they help me as an HR consultant and leader:

• Efficiency: They cut down hours of research, writing, and prep so I can focus on real conversations and decision-making.
• Clarity: They give me structure and insights, helping me see what matters faster.
• Human-first leadership: They don’t take away the heart of my work—they just give me more space to do it with intention.

AI is my assistant, not my replacement. And when paired with experience, strategy, and compassion—it’s a game-changer.