Summary: Curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we work? This blog explores the growing impact of AI in the workplace, from automating time-consuming HR tasks to transforming hiring, onboarding, employee training, and workforce planning. Backed by fresh data and insights from our ‘Leveraging AI in People Operations’ webinar, you’ll learn how to use AI tools to boost productivity, personalize learning, simplify performance reviews, and improve the employee experience. Plus, get practical pro tips to build your AI fluency and confidently lead through change.
Everybody’s talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI). In today’s workplace, it’s no longer just a buzzword. From automating repetitive tasks to transforming hiring and onboarding, AI is redefining how we work. According to PwC’s 2024 Global Workforce Hopes & Fears Survey, 62% of workers globally use generative AI daily to enhance their job performance.
At LifeLabs Learning, we like to think of the workplace as a lab — a space for ongoing experimentation and growth. Well, now’s the perfect time to put AI under your microscope and explore how you and your team can use it to improve efficiency, engagement, and employee development.
In this blog, you’ll explore AI in HR and employee experience, learn how AI is used in training, recruitment, and wellness, and gain practical strategies from our webinar, ’Leveraging AI in People Operations’, to build your AI fluency at work.
Why AI in the Workplace Matters
Despite fears about AI replacing jobs, the data tells a different story:
- OpenAI notes that AI could be integrated into 80% of existing job roles, enhancing rather than replacing human work.
- Gartner reports that AI will be pervasive in daily employee activities, helping people do more, not less.
Think of AI as a super flexible assistant that helps in countless ways. With many managers today feeling like they lack the capacity to do their job well, AI offers a solution. It boosts productivity and unlocks time for leaders to focus on high-impact priorities like growth, collaboration, and feedback.
“AI may be the steam engine of the mind.”
— Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and early investor in AI
How AI is Used in HR and Workforce Management
AI is fundamentally reshaping HR processes, making it easier, faster, and smarter to support employees and lead high-performing teams. According to Gartner, 81% of HR leaders have explored or implemented AI tools, and more than half are already experimenting with generative AI to improve operations.
Here are some of the top ways AI is being used in HR today, with practical applications across recruitment, onboarding, performance, and retention.
Automating Time-Consuming HR Tasks with AI Tools
One of the most common questions in HR today is: What AI tools are used in HR and how do they help? The short answer is: AI helps automate repetitive tasks so people can focus on strategic work. From calendar coordination and meeting summaries to drafting policies and internal memos, AI tools take administrative pressure off HR professionals.
This shift is especially useful for managers overwhelmed by growing to-do lists and limited bandwidth. When used effectively, AI frees you to focus on people, not paperwork.
Find a list of expert-recommended AI tools for HR in the AI for HR Playbook.
How AI Is Used in Employee Training and Upskilling
With rising pressure to deliver fast, relevant, and personalized training, HR leaders are turning to AI-powered platforms. Wondering how AI is used in employee training or what AI tools support skill gap analysis? Modern L&D platforms now use AI to recommend courses, tailor content to role-specific needs, and offer real-time feedback.
These tools don’t just make training more efficient, they also help reinforce high-impact leadership skills like communication, collaboration, and adaptability. At LifeLabs, we call these irreplaceable human abilities Tipping Point Skills™, and they’re the perfect complement to AI-driven learning.
Dive deeper! Read Why People Skills are the Future of Work
“As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership”
— Amit Ray, AI scientist and author of Compassionate Artificial Intelligence
Leveraging AI to Simplify Performance Management
AI is also helping HR teams reimagine performance reviews. Instead of manually compiling feedback and data, managers can now rely on AI to generate first-draft performance summaries using inputs like 360° reviews, self-assessments, and KPIs.
This approach reduces time spent on documentation and creates more consistency across the organization. Managers still need to personalize and humanize these drafts, but AI gives them a valuable head start and helps ensure no key insights are missed.
Improving Workforce Planning and Retention with AI
AI is increasingly used in predictive analytics for workforce planning, helping HR teams make smarter decisions about staffing, engagement, and growth. These tools can identify warning signs of attrition, spot performance trends, and surface insights that support more proactive leadership.
Looking to retain your top talent? AI can help you detect what’s working, and what’s not, across teams, so you can course-correct and grow more intentionally.
Using AI in Hiring and Recruitment
AI is transforming the recruiting process, from job description creation to resume screening and candidate evaluation. Tools that use machine learning can quickly sift through applications, flag promising candidates, and suggest interview questions that align with core competencies.
That said, it’s important to note that AI in hiring must be used ethically. Many organizations are addressing key questions like: What is AI bias in the hiring process? and How do we reduce bias in AI hiring? To ensure fairness, companies are reviewing AI-generated outputs and using audits to avoid reinforcing systemic biases, especially in jurisdictions where AI hiring tools are now regulated, like New York City.
Dive deeper! Read: Practical Strategies for Ethical, Fair, and Impactful Implementation
How AI Is Used in Employee Onboarding and Experience
Many HR teams are now asking: Can onboarding be automated? and How is AI used in onboarding?
The answer is yes! AI can dramatically improve the new hire experience. With AI-powered onboarding software, companies can automate training sequences, share tailored resources, answer common questions via chatbot, and help employees navigate benefits and policies from day one.
By streamlining onboarding, AI increases productivity and confidence for new hires while saving HR teams hours of manual setup.
Get skilled up in AI – 8 helpful tips
Are you ready to equip yourself and your team for the rise of Artificial intelligence in the workplace? Explore these tips we gathered from seasoned leaders who shared their strategies for navigating AI at work in our ‘Leveraging AI in People Operations’ webinar and be sure to pass them along to your team!
- Always be learning: This is one of our core values at LifeLabs Learning and it applies well to technology in the workplace. Take time to understand the basics of AI: what it can do, where it can be useful, and how it’s changing the way we work. Stay up to date with the latest AI developments by following thought leaders in the field.
- Poll your peers: Talk to colleagues and friends to learn how they use AI tools in their work and everyday life. AI in the workplace is a hot topic among folks in our POPs United community on Slack where over 5,000 POPs, L&D, and HR professionals come together to network, ask questions, and share best practices. Join in!
- Get a demo: Schedule a demonstration of an AI-powered platform to deepen your knowledge and provide practical insights into AI functionality.
- Take a course: Enroll in an introductory course like Google’s Introduction to Generative AI to learn fundamental concepts and important terminology. This will equip you to engage in informed discussions about AI and its role in the workplace.
- Get hands-on experience: Give yourself and your employees a safe space to play with the capabilities of AI. Experiment with AI tools in non-critical settings to build familiarity and better understand AI’s potential.
- Try it out: Draft an email or another piece of communication using a tool like Chat GPT to grasp the immediate applications of generative AI and discover how it can enhance everyday tasks.
- Explore further: Extend your experimentation beyond Chat GPT to AI-integrated platforms like G-Suite, Google Sheets, and Microsoft’s suite of tools. Exploring a variety of AI applications broadens your understanding of AI’s versatility.
- Be critical: Be skeptical and critically evaluate the results AI gives you. Don’t just trust the machine blindly, as it can make mistakes, like being biased or giving you false information.
Navigating AI with Curiosity
As you venture further into the world of AI in your workplace laboratory, stay focused on uncovering the ways it can best serve you and your team. Discover its potential as a supportive tool to make tasks quicker and better. And maintain a sense of curiosity, for AI’s role and value within your organization are sure to keep evolving.
Want more? Download our AI for HR Playbook
Watch ‘AI Meets HR: Leveraging AI in People Operations’ On-Demand!
Watch Now
FAQs:
What are the benefits of using AI in HR?
AI helps HR teams save time, reduce manual tasks, and make smarter decisions. From improving recruitment and onboarding to personalizing employee training and simplifying performance reviews, AI enables HR professionals to focus more on people and strategy, not paperwork.
How is AI used in hiring and recruitment?
AI is used to screen resumes, match candidates to roles, create inclusive job descriptions, and even recommend interview questions. It can speed up the hiring process and reduce bias, but it’s essential to audit outputs and maintain transparency in decision-making.
Can onboarding be automated with AI?
Yes. AI onboarding tools can automate training, answer employee questions through chatbots, and personalize learning for new hires. This leads to faster integration, improved confidence, and less manual effort for HR teams.
What are examples of AI in employee training?
AI can recommend courses based on an employee’s role, generate customized learning paths, and provide real-time feedback during training. These tools help deliver learning that’s timely, relevant, and scalable across teams.
How does AI impact performance management?
AI streamlines performance reviews by analyzing data (from self-assessments, peer reviews, and KPIs) and creating first-draft summaries. While humans still need to review and refine these drafts, AI accelerates the process and improves consistency.
What are the risks or limitations of AI in HR?
AI is only as fair and accurate as the data it’s trained on. Without proper oversight, AI tools can reflect or amplify existing biases. Other risks include data privacy concerns, over-reliance on automation, and lack of transparency in decision-making.
How can I start building AI skills at work?
Begin with low-stakes experimentation: try tools like ChatGPT, take a short AI course, talk to peers, and get a demo of an HR-specific AI platform. The key is to stay curious, informed, and ready to adapt as new tools emerge.
