KARL
HARTLEY.
Designing AI automation and implementation systems for enterprise. Keeping humans in control while AI does the heavy lifting.
Not just adopting tools.
Changing how organisations operate.
I am a Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) born technology and automation specialist who now calls Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) home. For more than 20 years I have designed systems, processes and learning for organisations across Aotearoa and beyond. I now run hotloop.ai, an AI process improvement consultancy where I map processes to determine what should be automated and how — whether that is RPA for repetitive tasks, AI for classification and decision-making, or custom scripting for scale.
Before Hotloop I spent five years leading an enterprise-wide CRM transformation that reshaped an entire customer journey. The system was being built in an agile manner while we rolled it out — so I had to design for uncertainty, building same-day feedback loops between developers and the frontline and tracking post-go-live performance to verify improvements landed. That enterprise thinking is where I operate best.
I then co-founded Epic Learning and spent 18 months leading its AI transformation — restructuring end-to-end processes, maintaining data integrity with AI in the loop, and training a team of 12+ on new operating models. As Principal Investigator for ConCOVE Tūhura I led New Zealand's largest study on AI-generated assessments, producing the country's first ethical framework for AI in vocational education — governance work that applies to every organisation scaling AI.
"AI can help solve problems. But if the structure and guardrails aren't orchestrated correctly, you end up with black box situations and no idea how to fix them. I design the structure that keeps humans in control while AI does the heavy lifting."
AI Automation & Implementation
Mapping processes, building automation, and designing the governance that keeps AI working for humans.
Process mapping & automation. Identifying what to automate and how — RPA for repetitive tasks, AI for classification and decision-making, custom scripting for scale.
Enterprise implementation. 20+ years of enterprise-scale rollouts with agile delivery, same-day feedback loops, and post-go-live performance tracking.
Human Over The Loop. Designing the governance and guardrails that keep humans in control. Structure first, then tools. Not the other way around.
Research-backed methodology. Frameworks tested at national scale — ethical AI governance, Te Tiriti compliance, and data sovereignty.
AI Generated Assessments
Where the Human Over The Loop methodology was built and tested — automation at scale with governance that works.
Leading New Zealand's largest study on AI in vocational education
Principal Investigator for a comprehensive study examining whether AI can create assessments that pass New Zealand's national moderation system. Built the Python automation that produced 1,000+ assessments — then developed the ethical and governance frameworks that every organisation scaling AI needs.
- check_circle Ethical framework responding to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- check_circle 5-phase methodology for AI-generated assessment at scale
- check_circle Governance model validated by subject matter experts
Presentations & Panels
NZATD Webinar
AI Workflows and Copilot Studio
NZVETRF 2025
AI generated assessments for vocational education (with Eve Price)
AVETRA Conference
AI generated assessments for VET
ConCOVE Tūhura Conference
Future proofing assessment: AI generated design
No Frills National VET Research
AI generated assessments and inclusive VET pathways
NZATO Digital Learning Showcase
Shadow AI: the secret power shaping learning and development
TEDxRuakura Salon
Speaker
Selected Projects
AI Process Automation
AI process improvement consultancy. Built Python automation that produced 1,000+ research assessments. AI agents in Copilot Studio, connected workflows across Anthropic and OpenAI backends. Voice tools, assessment dashboards, and content pipelines running in production.
CRM Transformation
Led training and implementation for an enterprise-wide CRM upgrade that reshaped the end-to-end customer journey. Agile delivery, same-day feedback loops, post-go-live tracking.
AI Transformation
18 months embedding AI across a remote team of 12+. Restructured end-to-end processes, maintained data integrity, trained the team on new operating models.
AI Generated Assessment + State Compliance
Led design of a generative AI assessment engine that overlays state-based construction legislation onto assessment questions. Enabled providers to generate legally relevant variants instantly.
NZF Learn Platform
Developed learning dashboard and e-learning content for national coach and referee education. 4,000+ active users.
AI Activator
Developed introduction to AI module for the national AI Activator programme.