Letter From the CEO

Unlike past technology revolutions, AI isn’t just changing how we work — it’s changing the nature of work itself. And it’s moving faster than most organizations can absorb.

What strikes me most as a CEO is the growing divide between executive ambition and workforce reality. Leaders are sprinting ahead with high expectations for AI’s potential. Employees, meanwhile, are still trying to understand what it means for their daily work and careers.

This year’s State of Performance Enablement report underscores that tension. Executives see an urgent race to transform their workforces — and their entire businesses. Employees are willing, but uncertain about where they fit. And HR is caught in the middle, trying to turn vision into execution.

The opportunity is massive. Companies that successfully weave AI into strategy are growing their revenue per employee three times faster than their peers, according to PwC. And 70% of CEOs believe AI will redefine how their companies create value. Yet SHRM finds fewer than 1 in 5 HR leaders consider their current AI implementations a success. That’s not a technology problem. That’s a people problem.

As CEOs, we need to empower the right people to drive change. We can’t expect AI to deliver results if we sideline those who can bring our boldest goals to life: our people leaders. Too often, AI is framed as a CIO/IT-driven rollout instead of the human-centered transformation it truly is. HR must sit at the strategic center, guiding behavior change and upskilling at the speed and scale needed to help people reach their potential in the AI era.

Otherwise, we get what we’re seeing now: mediocre adoption without alignment, and investment without impact. Employees need clarity on their company’s AI vision, how it fits into their daily work, the skills required, and the link to career growth. Managers need confidence and coaching tools. And HR needs to lead in measuring how humans and AI work together to drive outcomes.

This is where performance enablement is essential: as an adaptive, in-the-moment, intelligent experience that delivers exactly what employees need when they need it. It promotes clarity, feedback, and growth continuously, so that performance and purpose stay aligned every day. It’s the connective tissue between AI expectations, strategy, and workforce readiness.

At Betterworks, we believe AI’s power lies not in replacing people, but in helping them perform at their best. As your organization moves from vision to execution, build from a foundation of collaboration and clarity. Connect the dots between AI strategy, workforce enablement, and measurable performance.