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As we look ahead to 2025 HR trends, the focus on generative AI will continue to heighten as the technology becomes more commonplace and integrated into daily workflows. However, despite its ability to revolutionize business functions, some companies still have concerns about how generative AI works, whether they should leverage the technology and how it can help them achieve their business goals.
Finding the right pace
The appetite to explore generative AI varies across different business sizes, as does a company’s likelihood to have started realizing its value. Small businesses with 1 to 49 employees may not yet fully realize the potential productivity boosts generative AI can offer. Businesses with 50 to 999 employees generally say they need to understand the technology better before widespread implementation. Large companies with 1,000 or more employees, on the other hand, often have the experts, tools and people in place to utilize generative AI.
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According to a recent ADP Market Pulse Study, of businesses with 1-49 employees, 17% have implemented or are piloting generative AI, compared to 44% of businesses with 50-999 employees and 63% of businesses with 1,000+ employees. In fact, 45% of small businesses (1-49 employees) decided not to proceed with generative AI or have no plans to explore the technology.
While it can be daunting to employ new technology across a business, leaders who are still on the fence should consider the value of generative AI and how it can be used to drive innovation and support teams. Rather than going at it alone, they might consider partnering with a provider that can facilitate secure, ethical and responsible deployment. Additionally, starting slow along the journey can help ensure employees are ready to embrace and leverage the technology.
Focusing on skill development
It is important for leaders to help their employees learn how to leverage generative AI to harness its full potential. Many leaders are navigating the need to reskill their employees to leverage new technologies over the next few years. This starts with practical training to demonstrate the real-world applications for these tools and how they would enhance specific day-to-day tasks and processes. This approach will resonate more with employees than technical deep dives focused on the inner workings of the technology.
Leaders should consider offering employees opportunities to experiment with generative AI in a safe, predefined manner through learning programs that prioritize practical realities. Leaders should also apply AI tools within their own everyday work to lead by example and encourage their teams to learn how to responsibly and effectively incorporate AI into their daily workflows.
In 2025 and beyond, generative AI use across industries will become competitive as more and more employers feel comfortable utilizing it. While hesitancy and concern over evolving technologies is understandable, it’s important to recognize that generative AI is complementary to and not a replacement for HR and business tools. The human element of the daily workflows is a foundational piece, with generative AI tools providing a helping hand.
Navigating the year ahead: Tips to incorporate generative AI into your workplace
- Launch learning programs on generative AI that prioritize practical realities, including changing tasks and processes, updates to policies and procedures and new ways of getting work done.
- Invest in generative AI to enhance HR, payroll, people analytics and talent management.
- Recognize that generative AI is complementary to and not a replacement for HR and business tools.
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