Can AI replace HR?

24 March 2025

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Currently,AI technology is used to automate workflows and complete simple tasks.

Before answering this question, you need to understand that these simple tasks might include creating a job description, writing an email to a candidate, or using an AI chatbot to answer questions on your company's career page.
 

Apart from that, AI can also lighten the HR team's routine work, so they can focus more on more important aspects.

 

With these various conveniences, professionals working in the HR field may feel worried. Will their role be replaced by HR?

 

What are the benefits of AI for HR?

 

Currently, AI has helped many parts of HR management. However, you need to know that AI is not designed to replace tasks that require empathy or a human touch. On the other hand, the presence of AI helps HR teams increase efficiency, make processes more organized, and can provide deeper insights. In fact, 63% of HR managers believe AI can minimize repetitive tasks or activities.

 

Here are some of the benefits of AI in the world of HR:


 

Simplify the process of recruiting, screening and hiring employees

 

Provide a more personalized onboarding experience

 

Improve the performance evaluation and feedback process

 

Automate administrative tasks, reducing workload

 

Use predictive analytics to help make data-based decisions

 

Increase employee engagement and satisfaction

 

AI enables HR teams to analyze data, gain more accurate insights, and make decisions based on real conditions.

 

Meanwhile, some HR tasks that can be done with the help of AI are:

 

Write job descriptions and job vacancy advertisements

 

Select the best candidate from the applicant pool

 

Automate communication with candidates

 

Compile emails and offer letters

 

Create customized development and training plans

 

Identifying outstanding employees

 

Provide performance feedback

 

Predict future workforce needs

 

However, keep in mind that even though AI can support various tasks, this technology cannot replace the role of humans in the most important aspects of HR.

 

What aspects of HR cannot be replaced by AI?

 

Even though AI has been widely used in talent management, this technology cannot replace the role of humans in the most important aspects of the HR function.

 

Here are several aspects that cannot be replaced by HR:

 

Empathy and Social Intelligence

 

AI does not have the ability to demonstrate the empathy and emotional intelligence that humans have, let alone at the levels required in HR work. HR teams use this ability to build good relationships with employees and create a supportive company culture. For example, when an employee faces a personal or professional problem, the HR team can understand the situation, show empathy, and offer appropriate solutions. AI does not have the ability to understand the unique feelings employees are experiencing or respond to situations with individual emotions in mind. This capability is the essence of the human role in HR, which cannot be replaced by technology.

 

Build Relationships and Trust

 

The HR team has an important role in creating and maintaining a positive company culture. They are the first people candidates interact with during the hiring process, and they are also the place employees turn to for support when facing challenges in the workplace. So, can AI replace HR's role? Even though AI is advanced, this technology cannot replace genuine human interaction.

 

For example, when an employee faces a conflict or needs advice, the HR team can provide full attention, listen actively, and provide personalized solutions. Things like this create a sense of trust between employees and the company, which is the basis of a healthy working relationship. Additionally, human presence is essential to create a sense of belonging among employees. This feeling drives employee engagement, increases productivity, and reduces employee turnover. AI is incapable of offering the deep interactions needed to build strong emotional connections and trust.

 

Handle Complex Interpersonal Dynamics

 

Human relationships are complex, and these dynamics often play out in the workplace as well. Conflicts between individuals or between teams can arise, and the HR team is usually the one responsible for handling these situations. In cases like these, a human on the HR team is needed to understand the nuances of the conflict, assess each party's point of view, and mediate to find a fair solution.

 

AI may be able to help in providing recommendations based on data, but it cannot understand the emotional context or interpersonal relationships involved in the conflict. More than that, the dynamics of diversity, equality, inclusion and a sense of belonging also require a human approach. The HR team must ensure that every employee feels valued, accepted and supported. To create a harmonious work environment requires sensitivity and a deep understanding of individual differences, something that AI technology cannot offer.

 

Ethical Decision Making

 

Even though AI can be developed responsibly, this technology still cannot replace humans' ability to consider ethical aspects and moral values. HR teams are often faced with dilemmas, such as decisions regarding promotions, layoffs, or managing other sensitive issues. Humans have the ability to see the long-term impact of their decisions, both on individuals and companies.

 

In this case, the HR team understands the company's values, ethics and morals, and is able to apply them in complex decision making. For example, when a decision may impact employee well-being, the HR team can assess the overall situation, consider the impact, and seek the most ethical solution. Thus, although AI can provide data or recommendations, this technology cannot understand the ethical context involving feelings, values, or the social impact of a decision. On the other hand, maintaining ethical standards is essential to creating a work culture filled with trust, support, and integrity. These are the various reasons why AI cannot replace the role of HR, even in an era of increasingly advanced technology.


 

What HR Roles are Most Vulnerable to being Replaced by AI?

 

A Skynova survey shows that 86% of HR professionals feel their jobs may be replaced by AI in the next few years. Administrative roles such as payroll administrators and recruiters have a high probability of being replaced, while strategic roles such as HR managers or directors are relatively safer.

 

Apart from that, here are some roles that may be affected by the existence of AI:

 

Hiring Managers

 

AI has transformed the hiring process with technology that can sift through hundreds of resumes in minutes and evaluate candidates through behavioral, skills and gamification-based tests. With AI, companies can identify candidate strengths, weaknesses and characteristics more efficiently. Even so, hiring managers are still needed to ensure cultural suitability, talent potential, and candidate interpersonal skills. Their role will shift from administrative duties to a focus on relationship management and talent development.

 

HR Analyst

 

HR analysts are tasked with collecting and evaluating data to improve processes and decision making. With AI, data analysis becomes faster and more accurate. AI can spot patterns such as the causes of low job satisfaction or high turnover rates, so HR can address problems more proactively. Instead of replacing HR analysts, AI can become a supporting tool that strengthens their ability to make data-based decisions.

 

Learning and Development Professionals

 

AI is revolutionizing employee training with a personalized approach. This technology is able to design training programs based on individual needs, career preferences and employee aspirations. Additionally, AI can provide real-time feedback and match mentors with mentees based on career goals and skills. In the next few years, in-person training will shift to more personalized modules. However, learning professionals are still needed to handle the strategic and execution aspects of complex training.


 

Payroll Administrator 

 

An AI-based payroll system is able to manage salary, bonus and tax data with high efficiency, reducing the risk of errors and minimizing fraud.

 

However, humans are still needed to resolve sensitive issues and ensure data security and privacy.

 

The payroll administration of the future will focus more on strategic decision making, fulfillment management, and employee support, leveraging AI as a tool to increase efficiency.

 

Conclusion

 

Although AI offers various benefits in the HR field, such as improving work efficiency, automating administrative tasks, and providing data-driven insights, this technology still has limitations. AI is indeed able to replace some routine tasks, such as the screening process, preparing job descriptions, or managing payroll. However, the answer to whether AI can replace HR is that AI is not designed to replace tasks that require empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence, and the things that are at the heart of the HR role.

 

The role of humans in HR remains irreplaceable, especially in strategic aspects such as building interpersonal relationships, creating an inclusive work culture, handling complex conflicts, and making ethically based decisions. The presence of an HR team is also essential to ensure employee trust and engagement, something that cannot be achieved with technology alone. AI can be a powerful enabler, but the human touch remains key to creating a healthy and productive work environment.

 

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