AI isn't replacing people— it's empowering them

The future of HR is human and machines. Chief People Officer Agnes Garaba explains how UiPath blends emotional intelligence with agentic AI to create a workplace where people thrive alongside intelligent automation.

- By Aanchal Ghatak

When you think of AI in the workplace, you might picture lines of code, complex algorithms, and maybe a robot or two. But for Agnes Garaba, Chief People Officer at UiPath, AI is as much about people as it is about technology. She brings a nuanced, grounded, and deeply human-centric perspective. As someone responsible for managing talent at one of the world's foremost automation companies, Garaba has a front-row seat to the transformation AI is catalysing—not just in business operations but in the very fabric of workforce dynamics.

In an exclusive interview, Agnes Garaba shares how her team is pioneering the integration of automation and AI in HR, and what it means for the future of work. Excerpts:

Think of AI as the Chief People Officer—how are you personally using it within your team?

Great question. As an automation company, we've used automation in HR for years, even before AI became mainstream. Early automations streamlined repetitive tasks, and then we moved to AI integration—starting with a chatbot that still handles employee queries efficiently. More recently, tools like ChatGPT assist with goal setting and content creation.

Now, we're advancing to agentic automationintelligent agents that can make decisions independently, unlike traditional bots. We're exploring how these agents can enhance the entire employee lifecycle while maintaining human oversight for sensitive cases.

One exciting project is upgrading our mentoring tool with agents that match mentors and schedule meetings autonomously. This isn’t about replacing people but augmenting them—freeing up time for strategic and creative work and fostering adaptability alongside AI.

I was about to ask how your team is reacting to AI—is it intimidating them, especially in a market where layoffs are happening?