HR: AI’s early adopters - why we shouldn’t fear it!

Written By Cameron Scorer

June 26, 2025

Why should HR fear AI? We Should Lead It!

AI. It's the buzzword we can’t seem to escape. It’s on every panel, every webinar, and every vendor's product roadmap. And yet, despite all the noise, many in HR are still left wondering: what does it actually mean for us? What does it do? Why should we care?

Here’s the truth: AI isn’t just coming - it’s already here. And while we’ve heard that before, this time, it really is different.

HR: The Original Early Adopters

We may not always get credit for it, but HR has been quietly adopting and experimenting with AI long before the hype cycle. Applicant tracking systems were among the first to embed AI-driven screening. Chatbots in HR? We’ve been trialling them for years. Predictive analytics? We’ve been using them to flag turnover risks, assess engagement, and guide workforce planning.

The difference now is the pace, accessibility, and power of AI. It’s no longer about automating low-value tasks - it’s about reimagining how we work.

The Misunderstood Opportunity

Let’s be honest... AI is confusing. It’s been branded as both saviour and saboteur. We hear phrases like “machine learning,” “large language models,” and “generative AI” thrown around, or even just the term itself, often with little explanation or context. And that’s created fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of replacement. Fear of getting it wrong.

But here’s the thing: AI isn’t here to take our jobs. No, really it isn't. It’s here to transform them. It’s here to elevate the human side of HR, not erase it.

Enhancing, Not Replacing

Imagine spending less time on admin-heavy processes, compliance tracking, and policy drafting. Imagine AI supporting talent acquisition by writing inclusive job descriptions or summarising candidate CVs with pinpoint accuracy. Imagine being able to generate development plans or career pathways in minutes, guided by real-time skill analysis.

This is the reality AI offers - not redundancy, but augmentation. The future HR professional won’t be replaced by a bot. They’ll be supported by one.

Practical Solutions for Today

There are AI solutions already enhancing HR work:

  • Generative AI for job descriptions, internal communications, and training materials

  • AI based analytics predicting turnover, performance trends, and engagement drivers

  • Chatbots for employee queries, onboarding, and real-time policy guidance

  • AI powered learning platforms that adapt to individual development goals

These tools are not out of reach and they’re already being embedded into platforms we use every day.

Humanising AI: Our Unique Responsibility

HR has always been the heartbeat of the organisation. As AI becomes more embedded, it’s up to us to ensure it reflects the values, ethics, and empathy that underpin a great workplace.

We need to:

  • Ensure transparency: employees should know when and how AI is being used

  • Champion ethical AI: free from bias, built with fairness

  • Protect human oversight: AI can advise, but people must decide

  • Design with inclusion in mind: ensuring accessibility and fairness for all employee demographics

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape how AI is used in the workplace. That power and responsibility sits with us.

So in summary - AI doesn’t need to be feared. But it does need to be understood. HR has always adapted, evolved, and innovated, and this is no different. By embracing AI with curiosity, responsibility, and empathy, we can build a future of work that’s not only more efficient, but more human. It's not a buzzword or a throw away comment of "it's coming" anymore, it's here.

Let’s stop waiting for AI to happen to us and start leading the way in how it happens with us.

Cameron Scorer