Chief People Officers Outlook September 2025

10Chief People Officers Outlook 2. Talent and technology outlook Figure 4. Ranking of priorities in relation to workforce deployment of AI and process automation technology in the next 6-12 months 1 Collaborating with technical departments in designing and deploying AI tools and policies 2 Mapping the impact of AI on people, jobs, tasks and processes 3 Proactively redesigning jobs, tasks and processes 4 Developing upskilling and reskilling programmes 5 Hiring new, specialized talent with skills to work alongside, or design, AI tools 6 Facilitating talent redeployment and internal mobility 7 Leading the design and execution of change management programmes 8 Measuring productivity and performance changes 9 Managing workforce downsizing in obsolete roles Source: Chief People Officers Survey. (May-June 2025).Current workforce AI integration priorities Mapping early AI impact AI is top of mind for people leaders. Figure 4 sets out surveyed chief people officers’ priorities in relation to workforce deployment of AI and automation over the next 6-12 months. Collaborating with technical departments was ranked among the top three priorities by 59% of respondents. Equally prioritized was mapping the impact of AI on people, jobs, tasks and processes – highlighting a shared commitment to understanding how AI is reshaping work at different levels. Proactively redesigning jobs, tasks and processes ranks third. As AI tools become more embedded in daily operations, chief people officers consulted for this briefing emphasize the importance of evolving traditional job structures. This points to a broader view of AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for more fundamental workforce transformations.