The Executive Download: HR Technology Trends, July 2026
Below is our monthly roundup of key HR technology developments
The SHRM Executive Network sourced the web for the top HR technology news items, and these are what caught our attention. Give these finds a download, so you can upload them into your HR strategy.
1. Workers Predict a Loss of Humanity in the Age of Workplace AI
The Download: Despite AI’s relevance in the workplace, 63% of workers expect the workplace to feel less human in 2026, alongside additional worries such as skill erosion (57%), job displacement (49%), and privacy concerns (23%).
A survey from Resume Now found that workers also believe that AI will cause work to become less valued and more automated (43%), while some believe work will become a colder, more machine-driven environment (20%).
The Upload: How has your organization communicated the value of human intelligence while rolling out AI initiatives? Employee sentiment has a major role to play in AI success, and HR leaders can help shape it by keeping creativity and culture alive and valued.
2. Religious Exemptions from Using AI at Work Could be the Next HR Challenge
The Download: Following Pope Leo XIV’s public concerns about AI, a software engineer received a religious accommodation to avoid using AI at work.
Business Insider reported that the employee, a Unitarian Universalist, cited ethical and environmental objections to AI in her case before being granted exemption, highlighting how faith-based objections may appear in the future.
The Upload: Has your organization prepared for accommodations around AI usage? HR leaders should equip themselves to handle objections respectfully to reduce litigation exposure.
3. AI Skill-Building Approaches May Differ by Gender
The Download: According to recent research, women were more likely than men to lean on peer learning (45% versus 39%) for learning a new skill.
A TalentLMS survey of 1,500 U.S. workers navigating AI upskilling found that men were more likely to turn to generative AI (29%), versus 19% of women.
The Upload: How is your organization designing learning pathways to ensure different worker needs are met? As AI accelerates in the workplace, leaders who meet different learner preferences and remove workflow barriers may have a competitive advantage.
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