The Executive Download: HR Technology Trends, January 2026

As artificial intelligence develops into a strategic partner in the workplace, investors and organizations alike have been prompted to rethink how humans and machines collaborate. For CHROs and senior HR leaders, these latest shifts underscore the opportunity to shape AI-driven work in ways that enhance productivity, ethics, and workforce readiness. 

Here is our monthly roundup of key developments in HR technology, plus insights on how HR executives can tap into the power of those trends:   

1. Why Investors Are Betting on AI That Works with People 

The Download: Leading researchers from Google, xAI, and Anthropic have come together to launch a new AI startup, Humans&, The New York Times reported. Its founding is modeled on a principle that many HR leaders know well: AI should complement rather than replace humans. The mission of Humans& has already garnered $4.48 billion in value, and the company aims to launch products in early 2026. 

The Upload: For CHROs and other senior HR leaders, the creation of a startup like Humans& demonstrates the growing business case for positioning AI as a workforce enabler, not a workforce replacement. This rapid valuation signals that investors also understand the importance of human judgment, skills, and collaboration alongside AI — a sentiment that reinforces HR’s role in shaping ethical and people-centered technology strategies.  

2. From Hype to Hard Truths: AI’s Productivity Gap

The Download: While most employees (85%) reported saving significant time using AI tools, nearly 40% of that time is lost to “rework,” or fixing AI’s mistakes, according to a recent survey by Workday. The time spent reworking low-quality outputs has resulted in only a small percentage of workers (14%) seeing real net productivity gains. The survey also found that while 66% of leaders cited AI skills training as a top priority, only 37% of employees experiencing the highest amount of rework said they're getting access to any such training.

The Upload: This research highlights a strategic imperative: AI adoption alone won’t deliver value unless organizations also redesign jobs and invest in talent capabilities. Rather than viewing AI as a productivity silver bullet, CHROs should prioritize targeted skills development so employees can leverage AI effectively and reduce costly rework.

3. Meet the New Roles Defining AI-Enabled HR

The Download: As AI becomes more embedded in organizations, some are creating new roles within HR to manage AI’s implementation and impact, according to Business Insider. These emerging positions include leaders focused on AI adoption and employee experience, AI trainers and coaches, people data and AI insights leads, and responsible AI governance managers. 

The Upload: The rise of these new roles signals a broader shift in the function’s strategic priorities: HR must now combine technology fluency with people strategy and governance. CHROs should consider how to embed AI competence within HR teams, both to optimize HR processes and to uphold ethical, unbiased use of AI across the enterprise. 

4. Four AI Futures — and What HR Can Still Shape

The Download: According to research from the World Economic Forum, four plausible future scenarios for work are emerging, shaped by the pace of AI advancement and workforce readiness: Supercharged Progress, Age of Displacement, Co-Pilot Economy, and Stalled Progress. Across these scenarios, about half of executives expect that AI will significantly displace jobs (cited by 54%) and boost profit margins (45%), but only a few think it will increase wages (12%).

The Upload: Whichever scenarios play out, it is clear that workforce readiness is a strategic differentiator. HR leaders’ contributions to skills development, job redesign, internal mobility, and human-AI collaboration will largely determine whether AI drives shared productivity gains or widespread displacement within their organizations. 

5. CHROs as Architects of AI-Driven Work

The Download: AI and advanced technologies are rapidly reshaping how work is designed, managed, and measured, but most organizations are not yet structurally prepared for the change, according to Gartner’s CHRO Guide: 9 Future of Work Trends for 2026. It warns that without the intentional redesign of roles, workflows, and leadership capabilities, AI investments will fail to deliver sustainable productivity gains. 

The Upload: The CHRO’s role is to ensure AI accelerates human capability, positioning HR as a central driver of future-of-work outcomes rather than a downstream responder to technology change. HR leaders may be expected to lead the translation of emerging technologies into new job architectures, skills pathways, and operating models that enable humans and AI to work together effectively.