AI has arrived at HR departments all across the country

HR departments are handling new AI tech like it’s their full-time job...

The technology is helping HR teams as they address internal comms, engagement, hiring, and skills, but it’s also helping HR pros draft emails and job descriptions, understand people data, and serve as a thought partner in brainstorming and ideation work.

Many are planning to dig deeper into the technology in the new year, and we wanted to understand how. HR Brew conducted a survey of its readers in November 2025 to understand what AI usage really looks like for HR professionals.

AI is impacting HR right now. Nearly three-fourths (74%) of the people pros we surveyed have already felt “some impact” from the technology on their HR tasks. This is AI-use that’s specific to their HR duties—not just AI systems deployed for the entire workforce, which are often orchestrated with the help of HR pros.

Respondents told HR Brew AI tooling helped them free up time for strategic work, decrease admin work, and improve decisionmaking and data analysis.

They also said AI has streamlined routines and processes, created new challenges related to bias, compliance and transparency, and introduced new tasks and oversight for HR pros.

An additional 14% of respondents reported no impacts from AI on HR tasks, while 12% said they are not using AI in HR.

When asked about improved outcomes due to AI, one HR Brew reader who participated in the survey told us, “Stronger consistent communication from all HR staff, increased time to complete overhauls of job roles, performance management, etc. Also great for providing first drafts to new initiatives.” Their response echoed sentiments shared by those who pointed out AI’s effectiveness when it comes to communications and wordsmithing. Others noted AI’s data analysis and insights tooling can level-up strategic people recommendations to the business.

Employee engagement and communications (25%), talent acquisition (22%), and learning and development (20%) were most impacted by the technology, according to HR Brew readers.

Respondents told HR Brew that AI’s ability to tackle admin tasks and help save time on routine HR work allows HR pros to “focus more on the human aspects of HR: employee relations, culture, strategic planning,” according to one reader.

Many also reported little notable improvements to outcomes, but mentioned plans for bigger AI pilots and programs in the new year.

More HR-specific training needed. HR pros are pretty divided on their confidence in explaining how AI is being used at the workplace, according to the survey, with 53% of respondents telling HR Brew they feel “very confident” or “somewhat confident.” Another 46% reported they were “not very confident” or “not confident at all.”

Nearly two-thirds of HR pros surveyed by HR Brew have received little or no formal AI training, so much of their skills and experience is self-taught or skilling is self-led.

“I’ve just started using AI to help me with wording on a recognition program, employee reviews, job descriptions. I’m starting simple and haven’t gotten to the big things yet,” reported one HR pro.