Only around 5% of HR leaders report their function has already implemented generative AI, while another 9% reported they are currently conducting generative AI pilots, according to a new survey of 105 HR leaders from Gartner.
“More than half of HR leaders surveyed by Gartner said they are currently exploring how they can use gernerative AI with nothing in place yet,” says Dion Love, vice-president of advisory in the Gartner HR practice. “Conversely, 14% of HR leaders are not planning to use generative AI in the near-term.”
HR leaders responding to the Gartner survey said that HR operations – administrative tasks, policies, document generation – and recruiting, including job descriptions, are the most prioritised use cases within their organisations currently.
“Progressive organisations will begin to broaden how they use generative AI – for instance, our survey revealed more than one-quarter of HR leaders are planning to use generative AI to develop personalised career development plans,” says Helen Poitevin, distinguished vice-president analyst in the Gartner HR practice.
Gartner’s survey revealed that of the 167 HR leaders who responded, more than 60% are participating in enterprisewide discussions around their organisation’s use of generative AI. Fifty-eight percent of HR leaders reported that they are collaborating with IT leaders and 45% are collaborating with their organisation’s legal and compliance function to explore the potential use cases.
“HR expects to take a leading role in the evolution of generative AI; 35% of the 133 HR leaders who responded to Gartner’s survey expect to lead their organisation’s enterprise-wide AI ethics approach,” notes Poitevin.
Among 177 HR leaders surveyed, 84% believe that generative AI will make existing HR activities more productive, while two-thirds think generative AI will eliminate redundant activities within the function.
“Our survey revealed that most HR leaders expect a decrease in headcount within the HR function once generative AI is implemented due to the increased efficiency,” says Love.