A year in review of HR tech coverage: AI edition

I didn’t expect to be asking the internet about the highlights of my own work this year, but the year that was, thanks to artificial intelligence, is wrapping up, so I’m staying on trend.

But before we get there … This will be my last column of the year, so it’s time to say Happy Holidays! Thanks to all of you for sharing your insights and announcements so I can keep reporting the news from the world of enterprise workplace technology.

Billions of people go to work daily, and these people use the tools and tech that HR Executive covers—which means the work that you all do makes a huge impact. Thank you for all you do.

Now, back to that internet search. AI messaging has crossed my desk every day this year, so I decided I’d ask it (Perplexity, to be exact) to comb the web and tell me what topics I covered the most in 2024.

Top HR tech coverage topics, according to Perplexity AI’s review of Jill Barth’s coverage, visualized by Claude AI

Here’s the lineup—copy by Perplexity AI—which I assume is in no particular order:

Multi-generational workforce adaptation

“Barth notes the challenge of integrating AI and new technologies across a five-generation workforce, emphasizing the need for different approaches to technology adoption based on generational differences.”

Skills gap in data interpretation

“There’s a significant challenge in employees’ ability to interpret AI outputs in a business context. Barth highlights the need for training to bridge this gap, particularly in using AI tools effectively.”

Balancing AI and human interaction

“While AI chatbots are expected to handle routine inquiries, Barth emphasizes the importance of maintaining human interaction for complex employee issues.”

Avoiding over-reliance on AI

“Barth warns against viewing AI as a “silver bullet” for HR, suggesting that organizations may initially over-index on these tools.”

Data security concerns

“As HR tech adoption increases, Barth identifies data security as a critical focus area for HR leaders in 2024.”

Integration with existing systems

“Barth stresses the importance of selecting HR tech solutions that can integrate seamlessly with existing systems.”

User experience and adoption

“Barth emphasizes the need for user-friendly interfaces to maximize adoption and productivity in HR tech solutions.”

So, did AI get it right? And what do you want to read more about in 2025? Do these topics still feel relevant going into the new year? Let me know what you think.

HR tech in the news

BambooHR‘s latest Workforce Insights report reveals a global decline in turnover and hiring rates in November, with U.S. turnover reaching a three-year low, returning to 2021 levels. This drop suggests a more stable and satisfied workforce heading into the year’s end.

Pin, an AI-powered recruitment platform, has raised $3 million in a seed round led by Expa Ventures. Serving over 600 customers, Pin will use the funding to expand its team, enhance product development and scale marketing efforts to meet growing demand.

Experian has partnered with UKG to launch a new payroll integration designed to streamline workforce management. This solution aims to transfer employee data between systems, enhancing efficiency, security and cost-effectiveness across HR, tax and payroll functions.

ChatGPT announced 1-800-ChatGPT, a new way to access the service via phone or WhatsApp without an account. WhatsApp supports text chats only, so some features will require a logged-in account. The knowledge cutoff for this service is October 2023.