E4 | Trust but Verify: The New Rule of AI in HR | Laura Azzarella on HR.Salon Podcast

In this episode of HR Salon, Andrew welcomes Laura Azzarella, President of the Buffalo Niagara HR Association and a passionate advocate for the ethical and practical use of AI in HR. With over 15 years of experience implementing HR tech, Laura brings both excitement and caution to the conversation: how do we use these tools to empower people, not replace them?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why AI can’t be trusted blindly—and how “trust but verify” should become standard HR policy.
• How to use AI to amplify productivity, not automate away connection or confidentiality.
• Why tomorrow’s best organizations will hire for soft skills like resilience, curiosity, and empathy—and build the technical skills later.

This episode dives into the delicate balance between innovation and ethics, showing why the future of HR isn’t about choosing between technology and humanity—it’s about making them work better together.

Check out her content on Substack: https://substack.com/@appliedhr

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