As artificial intelligence and robotics become part of everyday business operations, companies may need entirely new departments dedicated to managing how employees work alongside intelligent systems, according to experts speaking at the Brookings Institution’s 15th annual John Hazen White Forum on Public Policy.
The discussion highlighted how AI assistants, collaborative robots, automated software, and physical robotics are becoming more common across manufacturing, finance, transportation, retail, defense, education, and healthcare, creating new workforce challenges beyond technology adoption.
AI Could Create New Workplace Roles
Brookings researchers say AI is expected to create new types of jobs while changing many existing ones.
Organizations are likely to need AI agent managers to oversee digital assistants and chatbots, robot specialists to supervise increasingly capable machines, and professionals who can help employees use AI tools effectively. Demand is also expected to grow for workers who can design easy-to-use AI systems and bridge the gap between technical teams and business operations.
“Robot Relations” Could Join Human Resources
One of the report’s biggest predictions is that businesses may eventually establish AI or robot relations departments alongside traditional human resources teams.
These functions would focus on employee interactions with AI systems, robots, and chatbots, helping workers adapt to new technologies, handling concerns about algorithmic bias, determining which tasks should be automated, and supporting collaboration between people and AI. Brookings also suggests HR and IT departments may need to work more closely as AI becomes embedded throughout organizations.
Workforce Policies May Need to Change
The report also argues that governments and employers will need to revisit workforce policies if automation significantly changes employment.
Potential ideas include expanding lifelong learning programs, recognizing caregiving and other unpaid activities as work, exploring shorter workweeks and basic income models, and updating labor policies to better support workers as AI adoption accelerates.
