Show Notes
Are we overlooking one of the biggest human consequences of AI at work?
As organisations race to adopt AI, much of the conversation has focused on productivity, efficiency, and redesigning work. But far less attention has been given to how these technologies may reshape something just as important: the relationships people rely on at work.
To unpack this, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Connie Noonan Hadley, organisational psychologist, Thinkers50 Radar thinker, and Research Associate Professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
Connie has spent decades studying the social experience of work, including the growing challenge of loneliness in organisations. And drawing on her latest research and conversations with senior HR leaders, Connie shares insights on how AI is beginning to influence not just how work gets done, but how people connect, collaborate, and seek support at work.
So, tune in to learn:
Why loneliness at work remains such a persistent challenge - even in organisations investing heavily in culture What CHROs are prioritising right now as they navigate AI adoption, organisational redesign, and a rapidly shifting external environment How employees are already using AI for things they once relied on colleagues for - from career advice to coaching and problem-solving Why return-to-office mandates may not solve loneliness in the way many leaders expect Practical ways HR leaders can protect human connection while embracing AI-driven transformation
This episode is sponsored by Hibob.
HiBob brings HR, Payroll, and Finance together into a single platform that employees actually use. With AI throughout, you move faster, work smarter, and empower your people to power your business.
Sapient Insights recognizes HiBob’s AI vision, citing the Bob AI Companion for making everyday work faster and easier. Fosway Group also names HiBob a 2025 9-Grid™ Core Leader, recognizing the strongest AI vision among Core Leaders.
HiBob. All-in-one HCM for HR, Payroll, and Finance.
Learn all about HiBob’s modern HR platform here
Resources:
We’re Still Lonely at Work
The Surprising Power of Team Rituals
Institute for Leadership & Work at Boston University Questrom School of Business Institute for Life at Work, research think tank and laboratory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Digital HR Leaders with David Green
As AI makes knowledge more widely available, are organisations paying enough attention to the relationships that help people put it to work?
What changes when the people function is designed not as a collection of separate HR processes, but as part of the operating system of the company?
Your organisation has committed to an AI strategy. But what does that commitment mean for the people who have to work differently because of it?
What if the thing slowing down AI in HR isn't the technology at all, but the way the function is set up to deliver it?
As AI reshapes work, the people function has an opportunity to play a much bigger role in how organisations navigate the transformation. At Snowflake, that starts with trusted data, strong people analytics and a clear view of what technology should automate, where it should augment human capability, and what should remain human.