HR leaders are entering 2026 with a clear priority: figuring out how artificial intelligence fits into the workplace while managing a growing list of external pressures.
According to a new CHRO report, 91% of chief human resources officers say AI and workplace digitization are among their top concerns—well ahead of other issues.
Most organizations are not overhauling everything at once. Instead, they are applying AI where it can quickly improve efficiency, particularly in recruiting, HR service delivery, and employee learning.
At the same time, HR teams are taking on new responsibilities tied to overseeing AI use, including governance and long-term planning. Even with that momentum, many companies are still early in figuring out how to measure results. Nearly half of respondents said they do not yet have clear ways to track AI-driven productivity.
The Real Friction Isn’t Technical
While AI tools are advancing quickly, the bigger challenges are inside organizations. HR leaders point to employee concerns about job loss, budget limitations, and legal and compliance risks as the main factors slowing progress.
Beyond technology, companies are navigating a complicated environment. Geopolitical instability, inflation, regulatory changes, and tariffs are all weighing on planning decisions this year.
Those pressures are forcing companies to balance investment in new tools with the need to manage risk and control costs.
Healthcare Costs Continue to Climb
Benefits remain another area under strain. Employers are relying more on high-deductible health plans, increasing cost-sharing, and tightening rules around specialty drugs to manage rising expenses.
Coverage of GLP-1 medications is expanding, though many companies are limiting access or continuing to evaluate how broadly to offer them.
HR’s Role Keeps Expanding
Taken together, the findings show how HR leaders are being pulled deeper into operational and financial decisions. Managing AI, workforce costs, and employee expectations is no longer separate work—it is becoming central to how organizations run.
