Human–Machine Resources

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping how work is organised, how decisions are made and how employees contribute value. This chapter examines the human side of that shift and introduces Human-Machine Resources (HMR) as the next evolution of the people function. It shows how AI enters organisations through small changes that alter tasks, expectations and the psychological experience of work long before structures begin to adapt. The chapter explains how HMR becomes the connector between technology and human experience by translating complexity into clarity, strengthening trust and guiding employees through continuous change. It outlines the core responsibilities of HMR, including role redesign, collaboration models, readiness building, fairness governance and the integration of human and machine contribution into a single workforce system. It also presents an HMR capability maturity model to help leaders understand their starting point and the conditions required to progress towards a more strategic, human-centred approach to AI. HMR emerges as the function that guides organisations through a future where intelligent systems become part of everyday work.