The Download: HR Technology Trends, June 2025
Our monthly roundup of key developments in HR technology, plus insights on how to harness the power of these developments.
Artificial intelligence agents are reshaping the workforce, hiring is getting faster (and smarter), and HR tech battles are raising serious questions about trust. As CHROs face growing pressure to adopt new tools and lead with clarity, here are some recent developments in HR technology that CHROs need to track:
1. Ready or Not, the Shift to AI Agents Has Begun
The Download: HR leaders foresee a dramatic shift in the way humans work alongside digital tools, especially AI agent-powered operating models. A large majority of CHROs surveyed by Salesforce (86%) said integrating agented tools alongside their existing workforce will be a critical part of an HR leader’s job. Those CHROs projected a staggering 327% growth in agent adoption within their organizations over the next two years. For CHROs who fully implement agentic AI, they predict an average employee productivity gain of 30% and a labor cost reduction of 19%.
The Upload: HR leaders anticipate a workforce made up of both humans and agents, but a large majority (85%) said their organizations have yet to implement agentic AI, and 73% said their employees don’t yet understand the impact of digital labor on their work. HR leaders are already at the forefront of reskilling efforts. But if the adoption of agentic tools in the workforce accelerates at such a drastic rate, leaders and their teams will need to get up to speed even faster.
2. CHROs and CIOs Don’t See Eye to Eye on Talent Acquisition
The Download: A majority of HR leaders surveyed by iCIMS (88%) believe their department is actively driving business change. But while 34% of surveyed HR leaders said their company views talent acquisition as a core strategic function, only 27% of surveyed chief information officers (CIOs) believe talent acquisition impacts business outcomes.
The Upload: The need for CHROs and CIOs to work closely together is increasingly important. Some companies are going so far as to merge their HR and IT functions. That may not be the solution for most organizations, but it demonstrates the imperative of cross-departmental collaboration to remain relevant and acquire the necessary talent.
3. Managing Machines: The Rise of the AI Agent Bosses
The Download: AI agent managers are the next role to emerge across teams, according to insights from Microsoft’s 2025 Work Trend Index. As AI agent-powered tools become more common (see above), the AI manager role will oversee various AI agents and delegate tasks to each one. But the role of managing AI agents will eventually fall to almost all employees. The Microsoft report said it's up to every worker to “think like the CEO of an agent-powered startup.” The report also said leaders expect their teams will be training (41%) and managing (36%) AI agents within five years.
The Upload: Organizations are bracing for an agent-powered workforce across every level and function. HR will need to rethink job roles, adjust job descriptions to account for AI skills, launch reskilling initiatives, and build support systems to guide employees through the change.
4. Vet Your Vendors: HR Can’t Afford Blind Trust
The Download: HR software companies Deel and Rippling have been engaged in a legal battle since March, with Rippling first claiming Deel planted a spy within Rippling’s ranks to steal trade secrets. Deel recently launched its own accusations, saying Rippling was engaging in espionage by having an employee impersonate a customer to access Deel’s systems.
The Upload: With so much at stake, HR leaders should always choose their technology systems, in part, based on how vendors handle sensitive employee and payroll information. As HR leaders look to update existing systems or employ new ones, they’ll need to exercise an abundance of caution to ensure their chosen software is reliable, trustworthy, and drama-free.
5. ‘Ava Cado’ Is Extra: Chipotle’s CEO Touts Quicker Hiring with AI
The Download: Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright said a key part of the restaurant chain’s plan to grow at an “exceptional rate” this year includes using AI to make hiring faster. He said Ava Cado, the company’s new AI-powered hiring platform, has reduced hiring times by 75% by collecting basic information, scheduling interviews for hiring managers, and sending offers to selected candidates.
The Upload: Some CHROs may be hesitant about how heavily to lean into AI in the hiring process. But CEOs are doubling down on AI and will expect CHROs to be strategic players who can help the organization — and its people — navigate change with agility and adaptability.
SHRM Resource: Using AI for Employment Purposes
Was this resource helpful?
Validate your HR expertise
Earning your SHRM-CP credential makes you a recognized expert and leader in the HR field.
Related Content
Learn how Marsh McLennan successfully boosts staff well-being with digital tools, improving productivity and work satisfaction for more than 20,000 employees.
The proliferation of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the ensuing expected increase in productivity and efficiency, could help usher in the four-day workweek, some experts predict.
As artificial intelligence technology continues to develop, the demand for workers with the ability to work alongside and manage AI systems will increase. This means that workers who are not able to adapt and learn these new skills will be left behind in the job market.