This half-day workshop for the HR Directors’ Forum in Cambridge, explored responsible AI principles and practices. The session provided HR leaders with a deeper understanding of AI’s opportunities and risks, equipping them to make informed decisions about its adoption in their organisations.
Introduction
The HR Directors Forum is a developmental forum based in Cambridge UK for Chief People Officers and HR Directors. It provides a confidential, safe space for leaders to develop their thinking and share ideas with trusted colleagues who have faced similar challenges. They meet monthly to explore areas of interest, to keep up to date with new thinking in the world of strategic HR.
The Brief
Artificial Intelligence is a key focus for HR leaders, and particularly for this group based in Cambridge UK, also known as the “Silicon Fen”, due to its concentration of cutting edge tech firms. Some participants represented businesses pioneering innovative AI-driven technologies, others were exploring AI-powered HR solutions, and all were eager to deep their understanding to make informed decisions about AI adoption.
Inclusioneering’s CEO Jo Stansfield was invited to lead an in-person half day focussed learning session to explore the use of artificial intelligence in HR, and how to harness its benefits and minimise the risks.
Our Approach
Jo designed the half-day session to teach key concepts of responsible AI in a discussion-based format. Beginning with a brief history of AI and types of AI, the participants discussed how it is already prevalent in many of the ways we live and work. We considered a spectrum of AI uses, from decision-support, to behavioural nudges, to autonomous decision making.
We discussed how the group were using AI in HR and the benefits it was providing. Some organisations were wary of AI and prevented employees from using AI tools, while others have embraced it. Almost all of the participants used AI in some form, however, including summarising meetings and drafting documents.
We then moved on to consider some of the risks, asking the question “We may trust AI, but is it trustworthy?”. Using a framework of responsible AI principles we explored topics through the lens of the participants’ AI usage scenarios:
- Fairness, Non-Bias and Non-Discrimination
- Transparency, Explainability, and Accessibility
- Privacy, Data Protection, Security, and Safety
- Validity, Accuracy and Reliability
- Ethical Supply Chain
- Governance, Human Oversight, and Redress
We touched upon new laws, like the EU Act, that requires organisations to adhere to risk-based regulations, including oversight, accountability and governance.
The discussion concluded with participants considering what they need to start doing to harness the benefits and minimise the risks of AI.

Stock photo, credit: SolStock
Impact
The rich, wide-ranging discussion uncovered topics that were highly relevant for this group of HR leaders. It provided a safe space for them to explore the topic in depth, learning both from theory and each others’ experience and insights. Participants left with action points to raise for their own organisations’ AI adoption.