The State of AI in HR in 2026
April 1, 2026 1:00 PM ET
AI’s promise in HR is undeniable, yet its adoption and impact remain uneven. New SHRM research reveals a growing gap between what artificial intelligence is technically capable of and how it is being used across HR today.
In this webinar, the SHRM Thought Leadership team unpacks data spanning 138 specific HR tasks to show where AI is delivering real value. You’ll gain a clear view of how much work is currently automated or AI-assisted, the nontechnical barriers slowing job displacement, and the role of skills, confidence, and anxiety in shaping HR’s AI readiness. The session also explores how effective HR-IT partnerships are enabling progress and where misalignment is holding organizations back.
Attendees will leave with a practical, research-backed understanding of today’s AI reality in HR and clearer insight into where to focus, where to pause, and how to move forward with confidence amid a rapidly evolving landscape.
SHRM Knowledge Advisors will join the live webinar to answer your questions in real time—right in the chat. If we don’t get to your question during the session? No problem, SHRM members can head to SHRM Connect after this webinar to keep the conversation going with advisors for 30 extra minutes. This benefit is only for members who join the live webinar and not included later on demand.
Meet the Presenters
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Anna de Guzman
Anna de Guzman, M.A., is a Senior Researcher at SHRM. She designs and conducts research to support SHRM’s mission as it relates to work, workers, and the workplace. She holds an M.A. in Research Methods and Statistics from the University of Denver and has over 17 years of experience in workforce research and program evaluation.
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Kenneth Pyle
Kenneth Pyle is the HR Technology Lead Analyst at SHRM where he leads a team bringing practical HR technology insights to its members. Leveraging more than 20 years of experience across multiple industries, Pyle has spent the past decade in HR, focusing his teams’ efforts on their clients’ questions. Prior to SHRM, he was the Senior Director, Advisory at Gartner for eight years, and two years as the Senior Director of Strategic Consulting at TalentNeuron after the division was acquired.
He enjoys helping HR leaders achieve their strategic goals through data insights and HR best practice research. From founding a startup to working at a Fortune 500 company and from academia to the entertainment industry, his broad background helps find solutions for a diverse set of clients. He lives in the Washington DC suburbs with his wife, three children, and overly-energetic doodle puppy.
SHRM certification has approved this webinar for 1 PDC toward SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the webinar.