What Lies Ahead For AI In 2025?
Two weeks ago, Josh Bersin released a compelling report titled “The Rise Of The Superworker”. It’s a thought-provoking read, and I highly recommend checking out the report or the accompanying podcast. Both provide a forward-thinking perspective on the significant role of AI in the workplace.
At first glance, it might seem like we’re far from a reality where every worker is equipped with an "AI army" to enhance their capabilities. But I’d argue we’re closer than you think. Many, myself included, are predicting 2025 to be a pivotal year for significant advancements in the deployment of AI.
Last January, I shared my top five predictions for what AI might bring in 2024, both in talent acquisition and beyond. This year, I’m excited to revisit the topic and share my thoughts on what we can expect from AI in 2025.
Let’s get into it…
1.) Reality Kicks In
Last year, I discussed how AI was poised to move from hype to reality. Entering 2025, some companies have pushed forward with wide adoption and some haven’t. This year, if you want to remain competitive, you’ll be deploying AI in multiple areas. With AI tools maturing and widely accessible, companies are no longer just experimenting—they’re implementing. Hiring teams are already leveraging AI to make recruitment stages faster and more data-driven, from sourcing to onboarding.
Here are some stats that highlight the impact:
- Resume screening time can be reduced by up to 75%
- Teams can save 12 minutes per interview during the interview process with conversational notetaking and AI-generated candidate summaries, according to feedback from companies using Pillar
- Companies using AI are 46% more likely to make successful hires
- 39% of leaders believe AI reduces bias by focusing on skills and experience during resume reviews, job postings, and interviews
…and the list goes on. The takeaway? AI is no longer optional—it’s essential for faster hiring, smarter decisions, and staying competitive in attracting top-tier talent.
2.) Workforce Transformation
AI is set to significantly reshape the workforce in 2025, driving changes across roles, skills, and organizational structures. Here’s a glimpse of what I anticipate:
- Job augmentation - although often repeated, it's true that AI will boost productivity by automating routine tasks, enabling employees to dedicate more time to high-value activities
- Creation of new roles - AI will spur demand for new job categories such as AI Trainers, AI Integration Specialists, AI Compliance Managers, and many more. Similarly, some roles may become obsolete, or fewer people may be required to perform them, so it’s essential to prepare for shifting workforce needs.
- Emphasis on reskilling & upskilling - to remain competitive, organizations will focus on employee development programs that promote AI literacy, the ability to interpret AI-generated insights, and the cultivation of soft skills that AI cannot replicate
- Workforce polarization - AI could widen skills gaps, creating a divide between those who use AI to enhance their abilities and those who may be at risk of automation if they don’t upskill
In my opinion, the workforce of 2025 will be defined by how well organizations adapt to and integrate AI.
3.) Record-Breaking Global Investment
The US has a new President and for AI, this means the promise of investment. He announced plans for up to $500 billion in private-sector AI infrastructure investment through a joint venture called Stargate, which includes OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Sam Altman of OpenAI described Stargate as "the most important project of this era."
Investment growth will span various sectors, notably healthcare, retail, finance, and talent acquisition. In talent acquisition, AI-powered recruiting platforms will attract increased funding as organizations prioritize efficient, data-driven hiring solutions.
And finally, core AI companies like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others will continue to attract massive funding.
4.) Evolving Regulations
AI regulations become particularly intriguing when leadership changes hands between leaders with opposing viewpoints. In my most recent edition of the AI Skim, I highlighted an article about Trump revoking Biden’s executive order on AI. The new government’s approach to AI innovation seems to emphasize deregulation and the promotion of rapid development, but we’ll have to wait for further indications on how White House direction might impact employment-related use of AI. Federal regulation is likely to be lighter, but states may fill the void. This article from Fisher Phillips, a leading employment law firm, is quite helpful as it lays out all the State AI workplace laws and litigations in one place.
5.) Candidates To Leverage AI Like Never Before
Companies will need to face up to the growing use of AI by candidates throughout the hiring process, from resumes to interviews and all communications in between. Have you considered how to ensure the candidate who walks through the door on day one matches your expectations? In many ways, candidates are already ahead of companies in their use of AI, and this is raising the bar for hiring teams to assess skills and potential accurately. This Korn Ferry article provides a helpful overview of the pros and cons of candidates using AI.
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As we look ahead to 2025, we’re entering a year with well developed AI capabilities — the limiting factor is now human adoption. With that, it’s clear that AI will continue to be a transformative force. Organizations must embrace this shift, ensuring they’re not only adopting AI tools but also preparing for the evolving workforce dynamics that accompany it. If I can be of any help to you during your AI journey this year, feel free to shoot me a DM.
During our February webinar, Lydia Wu, Founder & Creator of Oops, Did I Think That Out Loud, will guide us through bridging the gap between AI excitement and execution. If you're interested in joining us, you can sign up for the live session here.
Hope to see you there,
Mark Simpson
CEO & Founder
