79% of HR leaders plan to use more AI in their work

Published in January 2025, Fosway’s HR Realities research looks at the challenges, strategies and priorities of HR leaders in the business world – here Fosway analysts look at how HR professionals will use AI in future, for better HR processes.

The adoption of AI in HR seems assured. Whilst 79% almost 80% plan to expand their adoption of AI in HR, it is only a very, very small minority – 5% of HR leaders – who have no plans to expand the use of AI their HR processes. AI is coming to HR and with a host of knock-on effects across the employee experience and HR operations. But how will HR processes and operations change?

The most significant impact of AI on HR teams will be the upskilling and the reallocation of HR into new ‘people intelligence’ roles

HR leaders expect the impact of AI in HR to have a major impact on shaping the HR teams of the future. Not only is that seen as a driver of new skills for HR professionals across the HR team, but also in the roles HR teams focus on and the reallocation of HR resources into AI management and investment in HR technology. The role of HR is going to change.

Already, thought leaders around the future of HR point at the growing role of strategic people intelligence and being a strategic people strategy advisor – particularly in the themes of workforce planning, people agility, releasing engagement and business plan execution.

By 2030 half of HR professionals think that between 25% to 50% of HR’s role could be automated by AI and still be effective

When we ask HR leaders to think about the potential depth of impact of AI on their HR operations by 2030, the expectations are profound, if not astonishing. Around one in four think that more than half of HR’s role in the organisation could be automated or be made redundant through the adoption of AI – and, most importantly, still be as effective as today.

Even those who are more moderate in their assumptions about the impact of AI in HR have relatively high expectations. Over half of those HR leaders in our survey believed that between 25% and 50% of HR’s role could be automated with no detrimental impact on HR’s effectiveness.

This is an excerpt from the Fosway’s HR Realities research 2024. Get the full insight and discover all the latest market and solution trends by viewing all the infographics here.

What should you do next?

• How will future AI developments change your HR workflow? Take part in Fosway’s strategic project for 2025: ‘AI in HR’.
• How do you validate your vendor options as a HR leader? Read the latest 9-Grid^TM for Cloud HR report.

Other recommended reading

• Other Fosway research related to AI and HR strategy.
• How HR teams can harness ethical AI.

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