Much like welcoming a firstborn into the world, some things are hard to fully prepare for, and there’s myriad competing recommendations and advice about how to do it right.

Unlike childbirth, AI technology hasn’t been around since before the protohuman, so it’s unclear if we even know what is right. That hasn’t stopped people pros from being tapped to articulate policy on using AI at work or to work on a plan for how to incorporate these new tools into workflows.

“Almost every CEO, HR director, CTO is being asked by their boards of directors and their colleagues: What is our GenAI game plan? They’re all scrambling to develop one,” said Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab at the Stanford Institute for Human Centered AI and the Department of Economics. “I see a chaotic landscape out there that’s filled with confusion and buzzwords, and that’s a tough situation to be making decisions.”

The AI task analysis. Brynjolfsson, who also co-founded Workhelix, a tech company that works with employers to identify opportunities for AI adoption, told HR Brew that these decisions must be cross-functional.

Keep reading here.—AD

Let’s talk numbers: Depression and anxiety cost the global economy an estimated $1t every year. What’s driving that $$$ amount? Loss of productivity.

If your business is struggling, it might mean your people are struggling too. That’s where BetterHelp comes in. Their new service makes it easy for employers to offer online therapy as a workplace benefit.

BetterHelp Business gives organizations access to the largest network of professional, licensed, vetted therapists. The platform is built specifically for HR professionals, so you can count on a functional, straightforward interface that’s easy to manage.

Amplify access to mental healthcare for your employees. Request a demo to learn more about BetterHelp Business.

Startups and investors are set to meet in Las Vegas in September as part of a special track during the HR Tech conference. The Investor Summit is designed to bring the two groups together and further the development of the next generation of HR technology.

“[The] HR Tech [conference], as a show, has always attracted innovators, and when the industry gathers in a place, investors [and] bankers show up,” said George LaRocque, HR tech advisor and analyst and founder of WorkTech, who is chairing the Investor Summit. “For a very long time, HR Tech had been attracting angel investors, VCs, private equity investment banks, family offices, every type of investor.”

Rather than holding space for these types of conversations between innovators and startups and investors during breaks in hallways or after hours in bars and restaurants, LaRocque and organizers are hoping to “create an environment where they can really connect more meaningfully.”

Zoom out. Investment in HR tech is up this year, after a slight slump last year. There were 175 major HR tech announcements in Q1, according to a quarterly report from HRO Today. That’s an increase from 96 announcements in Q4 2023 and up by 52 YOY.

Keep reading here.—AD

Do you consider your pets part of your family? Nearly all pet owners (97%) say their furry companions are family, according to the Pew Research Center. As such, the grief associated with losing them can be devastating, and this can affect how employees show up to work, according to Erika Sinner, founder and CEO of marketing agency Directorie, and author of Pets Are Family.

Sinner shared advice with HR Brew for people pros whose employees are grieving the loss of a pet.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What are takeaways for HR from the book?

I’ve always had pet bereavement leave in my company policies…But actually taking the leave last year when I lost my dog, Kingston, made me realize the stigma around it. I was worried my colleagues wouldn’t understand, or they would think it’s just a dog.

Compassionate policies, like pet bereavement leave, that shows your employee…we recognize your family structure includes your furry family members.

Keep reading here.—MC

Simplify with AI. Think of the biggest hurdles in HR—making processes more efficient, decisions more data-driven, and workplaces more engaging and inclusive. In Paylocity’s guide, you’ll learn how AI can solve all of those challenges. And in the process, you’ll get more time to focus on the human side of HR. Get your guide.