News & Events

International Business Welcomed Two Visiting Professors: Jakob Lauring and Christina L. Butler

On 11–12 May 2026, the International Business (IB) group at the Turku School of Economics welcomed two visiting professors affiliated with IB: Prof. Jakob Lauring (Aarhus University, Denmark) in person, and Prof. Christina L. Butler (Kingston University, UK) online.

As part of their visit, the AI Futures for HRM research team hosted a focused Research Group meeting — creating an open space for like-minded researchers across units from TSE to engage in an open discussion on the immense potentials and vulnerabilities that may unfold in the age of AI, not only within organizational contexts, but also at the societal level and within academia. This open space is intended to foster a community of researchers interested in future collaboration and in further exploring opportunities and avenues for joint projects and research outputs.

For more information, write to us directly at AIHRM@utu.fi.

AI Futures for HRM Presented at Liikesivistysrahasto's 2026 Annual Meeting

Dr. Peter Zettinig represented the AI Futures for HRM research group at the Annual Meeting of the Liikesivistysrahasto Supporters' Association, held on 23 April 2026 in Helsinki. The event brought together members of the association and representatives of donors, forming part of Liikesivistysrahasto's ongoing work to support business research and education in Finland.

The presentation introduced the newly launched initiative and highlighted the urgency of responsible AI adoption — covering its impact on recruitment, performance management, employee support, learning and development, and decision-making in distributed work. The research group addresses not only the opportunities of AI but also risks such as bias, surveillance, exclusion, reduced autonomy, and the erosion of trust.

The core team includes Dr. Majid Aleem, Dan Ha Le, Samar Hafeez, Prof. Christina Butler, Prof. Jakob Lauring, and Dr. Peter Zettinig. The project is gratefully supported by the Foundation for Economic Education for 2026–2028.

One-minute introduction to the AI Futures for HRM initiative, presented at the annual meeting. Watch on YouTube ↗

The AI Revolution Is Transforming Leadership and Working Life

Exploring how the future of HR extends beyond algorithms to orchestrate employment relationships in AI-augmented environments where people can perform and feel a sense of belonging.

"The future of HR will not simply mean managing people through algorithms. Rather, it will orchestrate employment relationships in AI-augmented work environments where people can perform and feel a sense of belonging."

Research Initiative Launches at Turku School of Economics

Three-year interdisciplinary research examining responsible AI adoption in Human Resource Management begins at the University of Turku's Turku School of Economics. Funded by the Foundation for Economic Education, this initiative brings together expertise in international business, organizational behavior, and strategic foresight.

The project investigates three interconnected levels: employees (AI's impact on well-being and autonomy), managers (evolving leadership practices), and strategy & governance (organizational frameworks for responsible AI adoption).

Academic Partnerships Expand Research Network

International expert partners join the initiative, bringing perspectives from Kingston University and Aarhus University. Prof. Christina Butler (Kingston Business School) and Prof. Jakob Lauring (Aarhus University, Denmark) join as Academic Expert Partners.

These partnerships enrich the project's international perspective on AI and HRM, bringing expertise in strategic human resource management and organizational studies.