Five years ago, Jenny Whitman received a frantic call from her friend in the recruiting industry—half of the company’s recruiters were being laid off as AI in HR was taking over certain tasks. Whitman feared this was just the beginning of what had been reported a hundred times before, AI replacing HR roles entirely. Her assumption didn’t hold true for those who understood how to implement AI in HR strategically.
Today, AI applications in HR have transformed the industry, automating time-consuming processes such as payroll and attendance while allowing HR professionals to focus on the human part of ‘human resources’.
The use of AI in HR is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. A survey by Eightfold AI of more than 250 HR leaders noted that 92% plan to increase their use of AI in at least one time-consuming area of HR. Gradually, AI will find its way into areas of HR that typical require hours of human input.
“I use ChatGPT for training content, replying to emails, and even figuring out onboarding steps for employees with complicated visa statuses,” wrote one user.
One practical example of AI in HR is handling questions that are typically answered in the employee handbook. The HR Digest recently conducted a LinkedIn poll asking HR professionals what frustrates them the most. Surprisingly, 45% cited last minute urgent requests, while 29% pointed to employees not reading HR policies. Now, imagine an AI chatbot acting as the first line of employee interactions answering HR-related questions and escalating complex issues to the HR department.
A lot of companies have already deployed AI in HR with chatbots, and studies show that roughly 60% of employee inquiries can be resolved without human intervention, significantly saving valuable time for HR professionals.
Beyond chatbots, AI automation in HR is transforming areas such as onboarding and employee engagement. Tools like Pictory and Canva help with company newsletters, onboarding videos and employee engagement announcements. But the true power of AI in HR lies in time-saving automation.
Payroll processing often consumes one to two weeks of an HR team’s month. Using AI applications in HR, companies can streamline payroll, attendance tracking and even compliance processes, allowing HR professionals to focus on strategic work rather than administrative burdens.
What are professionals saying about AI in HR?
While many worry about AI in HR taking over jobs, real world applications tell a different story. So, how is AI changing HR?
According to X (formerly Twitter) user @Laura_Smith_HR, “Just saw a Reddit post asking if AI will replace HR. My take? AI is great for automating tasks like screening & payroll (hello, saved hours!), but it can’t replace the human touch—relationship-building, conflict resolution, and empathy. HR is about people, not just processes. #HR”.
Just saw a Reddit post asking if AI will replace HR. My take? AI is great for automating tasks like screening & payroll (hello, saved hours!), but it can’t replace the human touch—relationship-building, conflict resolution, and empathy. HR is about people, not just processes #hr
— Laura Smith (@Laura_Smith_HR) January 27, 2025
AI applications in HR are expanding at an unprecedented pace resulting in more saved time for HR professionals when used correctly. Some HR professionals are using tools like ChatGPT for HR automation of time-consuming tasks such as drafting job descriptions, ads, and policy frameworks.
“I also used it to help me write recruiting auto email templates,” shared one Reddit user.
The AI impact on HR is largely positive, with many HR professionals leveraging AI best practices to improve their workflow. “I use ChatGPT for training content, replying to emails, and even figuring out onboarding steps for employees with complicated visa statuses,” another Reddit user noted.
Rather than taking over HR jobs, AI is transforming HR by handling time-consuming tasks, allowing HR professionals to focus on strategy, people management, and most importantly, employee engagement. Companies implementing AI in HR are seeing massive efficiency gains, proving that AI in HR is not a threat, but a powerful tool that can help HR focus on the human part of their jobs.
Raising eyebrows and redefining roles
The AI revolution in HR has sparked both excitement and concern. Many fear AI replacing HR roles entirely, while others have raised concerns about AI bias in hiring. These are valid concerns and can be squashed with the correct use of AI applications in HR for the right tasks.
Those who have embraced AI applications in HR have gained insights into how it augments, not replace, human roles. AI automation in HR helps streamline administrative tasks, allowing HR professionals to focus on relationship building, conflict resolution, and most importantly, employee engagement.
But addressing concerns transparently is the key to ensuring AI’s success in HR. By implementing AI in HR thoughtfully and following AI best practices for HR, most companies can successfully harness its potential as a powerful tool rather than a looming threat. When used correctly, AI transforms HR by optimizing efficiency, improving decision-making, and supporting the human side of human resources.
Have something to say about how AI is changing HR? Let us know in the comments!
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