Training fails to keep pace with HR’s widespread AI use – report

The majority of human resources professionals are now using artificial intelligence at work, but training provided for these tools remains limited, according to a new report.

General Assembly polled nearly 300 HR professionals in the United States and the United Kingdom to determine the utilisation of AI in the HR field.

It found that 82% of HR professionals are now using AI as part of their day-to-day work, with 66% saying they have already adopted AI agents. Among the most common uses of AI in HR are:

• Analysing employee feedback (46%)

• Writing job descriptions (46%)

• Designing training materials (45%)

• Onboarding new hires (43%)

• Creating presentations and reports (42%)

• Reviewing CVs (37%)

• Writing employee communications (36%)

• Running talent reviews (36%)

AI training falls short

Despite HR’s widespread use of AI, the report found that only 30% had been given comprehensive, job-specific training, while another 26% said they did not get any formal AI training at all.

The findings reflect the previously reported gap between AI use and training in workplaces worldwide.

For HR leaders, only 18% said they received basic, conceptual training on AI, but this did not come with hands-on practice.

Just 12% received generic AI training that was not tailored to their HR tasks, while 14% said they had to find and take training on their own.

Daniele Grassi, CEO of General Assembly, told organisations that HR teams need to be upskilled on AI in order to harness its full potential.

"HR teams are on the frontlines of talent development and employee upskilling, and they must understand emerging workplace technologies," Grassi said in a statement.

According to the report, HR leaders are also asking for AI training to be provided, with 70% saying they want interactive workshops focused on HR use cases.

Another 63% said they want regular updates as tools and practices evolve, while 59% of non-AI users said they need hands-on, HR-specific training to get started.

Benefits of getting AI training

Providing AI training to HR professionals can deliver a wide range of benefits, according to the report’s findings.

It found that 85% of HR professionals who received job-specific training feel very or completely confident using AI.

Among those who self-trained, 63% said they are very or completely confident, with 36% saying they are only "somewhat" confident.

Other benefits reported by HR leaders from AI include:

• Helped their teams become more productive or even grow headcount (79%)

• Freed up their time to focus on strategic work (69%)

• Worked fewer hours (41%)

"These survey results make a solid case that AI in HR is here to stay," General Assembly said on its blog. "It's time to give HR the support they need to lead in an AI-powered world — not with mandates or generic videos, but with real, role-specific learning experiences."