This series was recorded live at HR Tech 2025 inside the HR Executive studios on the expo floor in partnership with the WRKdefined Podcast Network. Make sure you’re subscribed to the full series and visit HRExecutive.com for the news, analysis, and insights shaping the future of work.
AI hype is loud, messy, and often misguided. Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook cut through the noise and get right to the uncomfortable truth. Most companies aren’t ready for AI because they haven’t fixed the basics: broken systems, outdated processes, and low organizational literacy. This conversation gets into the heart of what actually needs to change before AI can deliver real value.
In this episode we speak with Jess Von Bank and Jason Averbook about responsible AI, organizational readiness, governance, incentives, failed expectations, and why rethinking work itself matters more than any new tool.
Key Takeaways
AI won’t fix anything until organizations fix their fundamentals
Governance, literacy, and incentives decide whether AI succeeds
Automating old processes is not innovation
Most AI failures come from bad expectations, not tech
Leaders need to rethink how problems are defined
The industry must stop “AI sprinkling” on outdated systems
Real transformation requires behavior change and reimagining work
Chapters
01:56 Why the TA and HR tech ROI hasn’t matched investment
02:45 The opportunity and danger inside the AI buzz
03:26 Human centricity, fairness, and literacy
04:11 The hype cycle and the rush to adopt
05:10 Asking “AI for what?” before chasing ROI
06:14 Why this is a reset, not another tech wave
07:33 Digital lipstick on an analog pig
08:11 Transformation vs ongoing evolution
09:52 What will happen to most vendors
10:39 Why AI projects fail
11:41 Redefining how companies solve problems
12:21 Defining success the right way
13:03 HR’s responsibility in making AI work
14:00 Leaders need AI literacy too
14:47 Productivity vs collective intelligence
15:55 Redeploying work, not displacing workers
16:24 The limits of current AI use cases
17:00 Why displacing jobs is the wrong metric
18:15 Vendors must solve real problems
18:59 Consolidation, infrastructure, and the ecosystem
20:04 Responsible innovation needs offense and defense
20:32 Why infrastructure consolidation matters
21:21 Why responsible AI starts with asking “why?”
22:01 Rethinking whether core HR practices still make sense
22:44 The crisis moment HR is facing
23:08 Closing thoughts and gratitude
Guest Info
Jess Von Bank, Global Leader, Digital HR Transformation
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessvonbank/
Jason Averbook, Sr. Partner Mercer
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaverbook/
Host
Bob Pulver, Elevate Your AIQ Podcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobpulver/
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