AI isn’t coming – It’s already here: What this means for the way we work

Forget the hype. Forget the endless think-pieces about “preparing” for AI.It’s already here - hiring your next colleague, reshaping job roles, rewriting your processes, and yes… reimagining your role - that of the architect of the hum-bot workplace.

This isn’t a talk about “what’s coming in 2030.”It’s about the AI that’s already inside your organisation today - sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly and what you can do to shape it rather than let it shape you.

Hosted by the CIPD Branch in Central London, this live session will cut through the noise and spark a conversation about AI that’s relevant, practical, and unapologetically real.

Our keynote speaker, Cecily Motley, Co-Founder of Harriet, has built an AI-powered HR assistant designed to remove the repetitive, time-draining work from people teams - so they can focus on what really matters. She’s on the frontline of where AI meets people, and she’s bringing that insight straight to you.

You’ll walk away with:

• A fresh lens on AI’s real presence in everyday work (not just future predictions)
• Provocative questions that will challenge how you think about your own role
• Why “crawl, walk, run” can be more effective than “big bang” and some examples of where you can find quick ROI wins.

Format:

• 5 mins – Welcome & CIPD introduction
• 10 mins – Setting the scene: how AI is really showing up in the workplace
• 30 mins – Cecily Motley keynote
• 15 mins – Q&A

Who it’s for:

• People professionals
• Business leaders
• Anyone ready to stop talking about “the future of work” and start dealing with the present.

About the speaker

Cecily Motley

Cecily Motley is the Co-Founder of Harriet, an AI-powered HR assistant helping People teams cut through repetitive admin so they can focus on what really matters. A second-time founder, Cecily knows firsthand the challenges of running a business and the importance of freeing up time for high-impact work.

Before Harriet, she co-founded the jewellery brand Motley London, growing it into a well-loved name before shifting her focus to building tech that supports people, not replaces them. Passionate about practical innovation, Cecily brings a down-to-earth approach to AI - blending entrepreneurial grit with a genuine belief in making work more human.

Please note:

1. Webinar joining instructions will be sent to you again one day before the event, with a further reminder, 20 minutes prior to the event starting.
2. The session may be recorded and shared with people afterwards. Please bear this in mind and have your camera off if you do not wish for your image to be shared.
3. The chat function will be used for participants to engage with the webinar, so just be mindful of the login name you use and ensure you are happy for other people to see this.
4. For security reasons, it is requested that participants join the live session 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time and with the same name as registered on Eventbrite as not doing so may cause a delay or non-admittance to the event.
5. This event may include an external speaker who has prepared their own presentation. Any views or opinions expressed by the speaker are their own and do not reflect those of the CIPD.
6. If you require any reasonable adjustments to enhance your experience, please get in contact with us by responding to this email and we will do our best to accommodate.