workforceLIVE: AI Capabilities, Culture & Change

A curated event for senior leaders in HR, People, Talent and L&D

6th May 2026, The Arding Rooms, London, SW11

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a gathering of senior HR leaders at an ai adoption event

The biggest barrier to AI adoption is not technology  

The real blockers to AI adoption are human. Fear, culture and a reluctance to admit what we do not yet know. AI has become a taboo subject. Leaders talk about it as if they understand it, but behind closed doors, most are still working out where to start — and they are not alone. aibl's research across 500+ UK mid-market companies found that fewer than 18% have moved beyond experimentation into genuine workforce-level AI deployment.

workforceLIVE exists to close that gap. In a room of 50 senior HR, People and L&D leaders, with case studies from WPP and Ipsos, Chatham House roundtables and no vendor pitches. Whether you are at ground zero or mid-transformation, you will leave with a clearer picture of what to prioritise, what to avoid and one concrete initiative to take back to your organisation.

"35% of businesses admit their AI projects are stalled by a lack of internal expertise."

Five Talking Points for the Morning

Beyond training: Are you building a culture of experimentation?


Most AI training programmes teach tools, not thinking. The organisations seeing real results are creating conditions where people experiment, fail safely and iterate. We will explore what that looks like in practice — from permission structures to team-level pilots.

Talent, tech or taboo? Pinpointing the real blocker



Is your biggest blocker a lack of AI skills, an organisational structure that cannot support a human-agent workforce, or a culture where no one is willing to admit they do not know? We start with the question most leaders are afraid to ask.

Who owns the People-AI operating model? (Hint: It's not just HR)

AI adoption that sits solely in HR will not scale. It requires alignment across the business — from the C-suite mandate to line manager capability. This session unpacks the operating model question: who leads, who enables and who gets out of the way.

From 'using AI' to 'thinking with AI': The mindset shift



Many organisations believe they are adopting AI because they use Co-Pilot. That is a dangerous illusion. The real opportunity is using AI to augment judgment and strategic thinking — not just task execution.

Building a Culture That Can Handle the Truth



AI will surface every inefficiency in how your organisation works. The question is whether your culture can handle that level of honesty — and whether your leadership team is prepared to act on what AI reveals, not just what it automates.

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Who should attend?

Apply to attend
Leadership Series events are complimentary, but attendance is by invitation or application only. Places are limited to 50 senior leaders to ensure every conversation in the room is between genuine peers.

You should apply if you are:

A Chief People Officer, HR Director, VP of People, Head of Talent, Head of L&D, or Director of Organisational Development at a UK mid-market or high-growth scale-up business (typically £20m–£500m revenue).

You are responsible for making AI work across your workforce — not just deploying tools, but reshaping how your people learn, adapt and operate alongside AI.

You are navigating real decisions right now: where to invest in AI skills, how to overcome resistance, how to redesign roles without destabilising your organisation. And you want to make those decisions alongside 50 peers who are facing the same challenges — not in a room full of vendors.
Apply to attend

What our research found and why it matters

Over the past three months, aibl has tracked over 500 UK mid-market companies across 28 sectors. Fewer than 18% have moved beyond AI experimentation into genuine workforce-level deployment. The gap is not technology — it is leadership confidence, organisational readiness and a shortage of practical playbooks.

This forum is built to close that gap. Every session is grounded in evidence, not opinion. Every conversation is designed to help you leave with clarity on what to do next.

A morning built around proof, honesty and trust

May 6, 2026
08:00
08:00 - 09:00
Registration & Research Findings
Informal networking, followed by key findings from aibl’s research on AI adoption in the UK mid-market workforce.
09:00
09:00 - 10:00
People and L&D Case Studies
Hear from senior leaders on real journeys from AI scepticism to organisation-wide adoption. Includes a practical, live demonstration of an AI-powered L&D or talent workflow.
10:00
10:00 - 10:20
Coffee and networking
Short break to reset and prepare for roundtables.
10:20 - 11:20
Workforce Transformation Roundtables
Where trust is built and conversations become real. Facilitated, off-the-record discussions focusing on the real-world challenges of deploying AI for your people: building skills, driving adoption and managing cultural change. Topics include... Talent, Tech or Taboo? Pinpointing the Real Blocker. Beyond Training: Are You Building a Culture of Experimentation? Who Owns the People-AI Operating Model? (Hint: It Is Not Just HR.) From 'Using AI' to 'Thinking with AI': The Mindset Shift. Building a Culture That Can Handle the Truth.
11:20
11:20 - 11:30
Closing remarks
Key patterns and insights from the discussions, outlining the next steps and connection to the wider aibl community.

Apply to attend

workforceLIVE is exclusively for senior leaders in HR, People, Talent and L&D roles at mid-market and scale-up organisations. Applications are reviewed to ensure the room is filled with genuine peers — no vendors, no consultants, no junior attendees.

The event is complimentary. Every attendee also receives a delegate pass to aiblLIVE London on 20 October 2026.

Apply below and we will confirm your place within 48 hours.
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