Why AI in HR Is No Longer Optional

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising human resources, enabling organisations to streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and create more personalised employee experiences. From automating recruitment to optimising performance management, AI-powered tools are redefining how HR professionals manage talent.

According to McKinsey’s 2025 Global Survey, 78% of organisations have adopted AI in at least one business function, reflecting a significant increase from previous years. This trend underscores the growing role of AI in HR, with many organisations already experiencing its benefits.​

View the Real Cases of How Leading Companies are Using AI in HR

At Avado, we ran our own pulse survey to understand where HR teams stand:

• 46% of HR professionals are using AI occasionally

• 32% are exploring AI

• Only 8% have fully integrated AI tools into their processes

These insights reflect what we explored in our recent webinar on AI tools for HR—a session packed with expert advice, tool breakdowns, and practical applications. This article brings those takeaways to life.

The Growing Role of AI in HR

AI is reshaping every aspect of HR, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and employee engagement. HR professionals are increasingly leveraging AI-powered tools to:

• Enhance recruitment efficiency by automating CV screening, conducting AI-driven interviews, and reducing hiring biases.

• Improve employee engagement through AI chatbots, sentiment analysis, and real-time feedback mechanisms.

• Optimise learning and development with personalised training programmes and skill gap analysis.

• Provide workforce analytics that help HR leaders make data-driven decisions on workforce planning, retention strategies, and performance monitoring.

Despite these advantages, AI adoption in HR is often met with scepticism. Concerns include the potential for bias in AI-driven hiring decisions, fears of job displacement, and the challenge of integrating AI tools with existing HR systems. Addressing these concerns through ethical AI development and proper implementation is crucial to unlocking AI’s full potential in HR.

Top AI Tools for HR Professionals

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

HireBrain

Talent Management

HireBrain is an AI-driven talent acquisition platform that helps HR teams identify the best-fit candidates. It uses predictive analytics and deep learning to analyse behavioural patterns, skill sets, and workforce trends, enabling data-driven hiring decisions. By automating talent sourcing, HireBrain reduces biases in recruitment and improves workforce planning.

FindEm

Candidate Search

FindEm specialises in AI-powered candidate sourcing by scanning millions of data points across various platforms. It uses AI to match job roles with the most suitable candidates based on skills, experience, and career progression. HR professionals can leverage FindEm to uncover passive talent, ensuring a broader and more diverse talent pool.

Loxo

Candidate Engagement

Loxo is an AI-driven recruitment automation platform that optimises candidate sourcing, engagement, and relationship management. By integrating AI-driven CRM capabilities, Loxo helps HR teams nurture relationships with potential hires, automate outreach, and streamline talent acquisition strategies.

Skillate

Candidate Analysis

Skillate is an AI-powered recruitment tool that enhances resume screening, candidate ranking, and interview scheduling. By using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning, Skillate analyses resumes beyond keyword matching, ensuring recruiters find the best talent faster and with greater accuracy.

HireVue

Video Interviewing

HireVue is a leading AI-driven video interviewing platform that helps organisations assess candidates remotely. It uses AI to analyse facial expressions, speech patterns, and verbal responses to evaluate soft skills, competencies, and cultural fit. With AI-driven interview assessments, HireVue helps HR teams make informed hiring decisions while streamlining the recruitment process.

Eightfold AI

Talent Matching

Eightfold AI is an advanced AI recruitment and workforce planning platform. It leverages deep learning to match candidates with roles based on their skills, experience, and potential career growth. The platform also helps organisations build resilient, future-ready teams by predicting workforce needs and recommending internal mobility strategies. Performance Management & Workforce Analytics

Performance Management & Workforce Analytics

Betterworks

Performance Management

Betterworks is an AI-powered performance management platform that helps organisations set, track, and achieve employee goals. By using continuous feedback loops, predictive analytics, and employee engagement data, Betterworks fosters a high-performance culture. HR leaders can gain actionable insights into workforce productivity and drive better alignment between individual and organisational objectives.

Taleo

Workforce Insights & Performance Monitoring

Taleo, an Oracle-powered HR solution, is widely used for talent management, workforce planning, and performance tracking. AI-driven insights help HR teams understand workforce trends, predict employee attrition, and enhance workforce productivity by leveraging data-backed decision-making.

Diversity, Inclusion & Bias Detection

Textio

Bias Detection in Job Postings

Textio is an advanced AI tool designed to eliminate bias in job descriptions and recruitment communications. By analysing language patterns, Textio provides real-time suggestions to make job postings more inclusive and appealing to a diverse candidate pool. This ensures companies attract top talent while fostering workplace diversity.

Harver

Behaviour and Skills Insights

Harver applies neuroscience and AI to assess candidates’ cognitive and emotional traits, enabling data-driven hiring decisions. By using gamified assessments, it evaluates candidates’ behavioural patterns and compares them against company-specific success profiles. This helps HR professionals make fairer, more accurate hiring choices based on potential rather than experience alone.

Employee Experience & HR Automation

Leena AI

Employee Satisfaction & HR Automation

Leena AI is an AI chatbot designed to improve employee engagement, HR automation, and satisfaction analysis. It acts as a virtual HR assistant, answering employee queries, collecting feedback, and automating administrative tasks, allowing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive queries.

BambooHR

Employee Record Management & Reporting

BambooHR is a cloud-based HR software designed to simplify employee record management and reporting. With AI-powered analytics, it enables HR teams to track employee data, monitor key workforce metrics, and ensure compliance with industry regulations. The platform’s intuitive interface makes it easy for businesses to manage employee lifecycles efficiently.

Learning & Development

Obrizum

Personalised Learning & Training

Obrizum is an AI-driven learning platform that provides personalised training programmes based on individual employee learning styles and progress. By leveraging adaptive learning algorithms, Obrizum ensures employees receive tailored educational experiences, enhancing skill development and career growth.

Workera.ai

Personalised Learning & Skill Development

Workera.ai focuses on personalised skill development and career progression through AI-powered learning assessments. By identifying skill gaps and recommending targeted learning paths, Workera.ai helps businesses build future-ready teams and support continuous employee development.

Challenges & Considerations

While AI brings significant advantages, it also poses challenges such as:

• Ethical concerns: AI algorithms may inherit biases, leading to unfair hiring practices or performance evaluations. (Explore: Understanding HR Ethics: A Guide for Professionals)

• Data privacy risks: Storing and processing sensitive employee data requires stringent security measures.

• Implementation barriers: High costs and integration complexities can hinder AI adoption.

• Balancing AI with human oversight: AI should complement HR professionals rather than replace human judgment.

The Future of AI in HR

Emerging trends suggest AI will play an even greater role in:

• Workforce planning: Predicting talent needs based on industry trends.

• Skills-based hiring: Matching candidates based on abilities rather than job titles.

• AI-powered career development: Providing employees with data-driven career growth recommendations.

HR leaders must stay proactive, investing in AI literacy and ethical frameworks to maximise AI’s potential.

Next Steps: Make AI Work for Your HR Strategy

AI is no longer a future trend—it’s a present-day game-changer in HR. From streamlining recruitment to driving employee engagement, the right AI tools can make your HR strategy smarter and more impactful. But to truly unlock their potential, you need future-ready skills and expert guidance.

That’s where Avado’s CIPD-accredited HR courses come in.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore AI in HR or looking to integrate it into your day-to-day practices, our CIPD programmes are designed to give you the practical knowledge and digital confidence to lead with impact. AI, data-driven decision-making, and digital HR skills are all embedded in the learning journey—ensuring you’re not just keeping up, but staying ahead.

When you study with Avado, you also gain access to Avado Connect—our exclusive learning and career support platform. As part of your course experience, you’ll benefit from:

• 1:1 mentorship from experienced professionals to support your development
• Exclusive HR and L&D job boards to explore new opportunities
• Monthly masterclass webinars exploring cutting-edge topics like AI in HR, digital transformation, and strategic people management

Start learning with Avado. Stay connected. Lead the future of HR!