AI is changing everything but is HR ready for it?

In this episode of The Plumm Pod, Georgia sits down with Lorraine Hunt, a 35-year HR veteran turned AI educator, to explore how artificial intelligence can be a game-changing tool for workplace mental health when used right.

We dive deep into:

How HR can proactively use AI for early mental health intervention

The importance of privacy and data ethics in AI implementation

Real examples of how AI is automating referrals, check-ins, and sentiment analysis

Why HR teams must evolve their mindset to lead AI-driven wellbeing strategies

Lorraine shares her unconventional journey from legal secretary to tech-forward HR leader, and explains why now not later is the time for HR to get comfortable with AI.

00:00 – Intro: AI + Mental Health in HR

01:10 – Lorraine Hunt’s HR journey: From legal secretary to AI educator

04:45 – Why HR needs to care about AI right now

07:20 – First tip: Before anything else, think about data privacy

09:15 – What AI can (and can't) do for mental health at work

12:08 – Predictive insights: spotting problems before they escalate

15:30 – How tools like Plum's Emma change early intervention

17:42 – Should AI be analysing Slack or Teams messages?

20:01 – The missing piece: AI strategy for mental health

24:40 – Creating ethical, proactive wellbeing dashboards

28:50 – Why HR pros often get no AI training

30:14 – Practical prompts: Using AI to write referrals and scripts

33:40 – The role of transparency and consent

35:25 – Helping managers get comfortable with mental health conversations

37:55 – Training AI to scan for mental health red flags

41:10 – Using AI to automate nudges and check-ins

43:50 – Will AI ever replace the human element?

46:00 – What's next: AI agents, evolving job roles & the future of HR

50:40 – Advice to HR pros: “Just try it. What’s the worst that can happen?”

52:30 – Final thoughts: Relax, adapt, and grow with it