In this week’s episode of the Punk Rock HR Podcast, Laura Maffucci, Head of HR at G-P, joins me for a conversation about the changing world of HR. We dig into how companies can expand globally with Employer of Record (EOR) solutions, and why AI adoption is both an opportunity and a challenge for HR leaders.
Laura explains the difference between generic AI tools and “agentic AI” designed to give safe, compliant, and action-oriented answers in HR contexts. She talks about G-P’s own agentic AI assistant, Gia, and how it helps HR teams make smarter, faster decisions without sacrificing compliance or security.
We also explore how HR’s role is evolving. While AI can automate repetitive tasks, the most human parts of HR—like leading through change and navigating messy people challenges—are becoming even more important. Laura shares practical examples of how G-P approaches AI adoption internally, from setting up an AI council and choosing safe enterprise tools to encouraging employees to share learnings in open channels.
Finally, we touch on the risks of over-relying on AI, the pendulum swings of adoption, and why global talent strategies are increasingly central to growth. If you’re wondering how to balance innovation with responsibility in HR, this episode is for you.
In this episode, you will hear:
- How Employer of Record services work and why they enable global hiring without new legal entities
- What “agentic AI” is and how it differs from consumer-facing AI models
- Laura’s perspective on why HR roles won’t disappear in the age of automation
- The internal steps G-P has taken to ensure safe and effective AI adoption
- Specific HR tasks where AI can create value today
- Why decision-making, empathy, and leadership remain uniquely human
- The dangers of expecting AI to replace human judgment too quickly
- How global hiring can help solve the skills shortage many leaders are facing
Resources from this episode
- 2025 AI at Work Report: g-p.com/resources/2025-ai-at-work-report
- G-P Gia (Agentic AI for HR): g-p.com/gia
- What is an Employer of Record (EOR)?: g-p.com/blog/what-is-an-eor
- Connect with Laura Maffucci on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-maffucci
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