As we move (too quickly?) through 2025, artificial intelligence is no longer a theoretical advantage or a side experiment—it’s a non-stop active topic as organizations evaluate how it fits into their operations.

Some early predictions about AI’s business impact have fallen flat, but others are proving to be spot-on. Among the voices, PwC researchers have revisited their 2025 forecasts. Analysts at the firm made early calls on AI’s strategic value—especially around sustainability, speed and competitive edge—that are now playing out in HR departments around the world.

‘A leap forward’ for AI

Report author Dan Priest, chief AI officer at PwC U.S., wrote: “In the age of AI, six months can be a leap forward, and most of our 2025 AI Business Predictions are playing out as expected.”

PwC’s predictions tend to align with the most current thinking from inside the HR function. According to speakers at the upcoming HR Tech conference and in industry reporting from HR Executive, HR teams are using AI to make better decisions, boost employee experience and improve talent acquisition efforts.

PwC predicted that AI would move from a supportive tool to a central driver of value. We’re seeing that happen across HR. CHROs are leading the charge, using AI not only to streamline tasks but to rethink workforce planning, learning design and internal mobility. What used to take weeks—analyzing engagement data, customizing training content or revamping job frameworks—can now happen in days, sometimes hours.

Speed is another area where PwC was right. Their forecast that AI would cut development cycles in half has direct relevance for HR. Whether HR is launching a new wellbeing initiative or adapting performance review models, the time between insight and execution is shrinking fast.

This year’s Top HR Products competition was one of the tightest in its more than three-decade history. New solutions are racing to market, setting the stage for an exciting HR Tech conference Expo Hall, while giving HR tech buyers plenty to consider.

PwC also correctly foresaw that AI would become a force in redefining competition. For CHROs, this is playing out in the war for talent. Organizations that can use AI to personalize development, expand access for frontline employees and bring real-time insight to people decisions are pulling ahead. Mobile-first systems and conversational AI are helping bridge long-standing gaps in communication and inclusion. Talent experience is becoming a strategic differentiator.

CHROs and the culture of AI

Where HR Executive sources add depth is in pointing out the cultural challenges that remain. Technology is advancing quickly, but adoption depends on more than functionality. It depends on trust, clarity and a shared sense of purpose. Many HR leaders are navigating resistance—not to the tools themselves, but to what they represent: change, disruption and a new way of working. They are also at the front lines of identifying use cases that solve actual business problems and align with overall organizational goals.

AI’s role in the enterprise is no longer confined to IT or operations. It’s leaving fingerprints all over HR. The predictions PwC made about AI’s value and velocity are showing up in workforce strategy, talent design and organizational agility.

“For companies that share this mindset, AI is reshaping how work gets done,” wrote Priest. “It’s accelerating revenue growth and redrawing the lines between people and technology.”

HR tech in the news

OrgChart, an organizational chart software solution, launched new Workforce Planning features. The upgrade replaces spreadsheets, giving HR leaders intuitive tools to visualize future org structures, track metrics and model scenarios.

Voice AI tech Krisp introduced AI Accent Conversion to reduce communication barriers during meetings. The tool refines accents without changing identity, helping employees feel more confident, focus on content—not pronunciation.

Wellhub, the corporate wellbeing platform formerly known as Gympass, announced its first micromobility partnership with Citi Bike. Following a successful pilot, employees can now access Citi Bike rides.

VLTED, an employee engagement platform, launched with a focus on gamifying workplace culture. Through casual, non-work competitions and conversations, VLTED is designed to build real connections that are naturally integrated into daily life via employee phones.

Employee experience platform Perceptyx has appointed Steve Winter to its board of directors. With decades of leadership experience, Winter brings strategic guidance to scale innovation and support Perceptyx’s position in the EX market.

OutSolve, an employment compliance provider, has teamed up with Roffman Horvitz, PLC. The collaboration merges legal expertise with compliance services, offering employers support for navigating audits, mitigating risk and strengthening HR compliance.

Greenhouse hiring platform appointed Sagar Patel as chief technology officer. With leadership experience at PayPal and BlackRock, Patel aims to accelerate AI innovation and build on recent launches to help clients hire more inclusively and effectively.

Advisory firm The Josh Bersin Company has unveiled Galileo for Managers. This AI-powered tool turns Bersin’s 25 years of research into daily guidance for frontline leaders, giving non-HR managers the support they need to shape employee experience.

Technical interviewing platform Karat added MasterCard’s Ed McLaughlin and EA’s Mala Singh to its board. Alongside a new Workday partnership and 70% enterprise growth, Karat aims to help organizations modernize hiring operations.

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