Chief People Officers Outlook September 2025

11Chief People Officers Outlook While mid-2025 workforce AI integration priorities identified by chief people officers highlight a near-term focus on implementation, research with a longer- term timeframe indicates that employers plan to broaden their AI strategies over the next five years, to include hiring AI- specialized talent, workforce reskilling and restructuring roles. This reflects a growing recognition that, as AI adoption accelerates and its implications become clearer, talent strategies need to evolve in parallel.3Navigating risks and opportunities Strategic AI integration Figure 5 sets out opportunities chief people officers identified in relation to workforce AI deployment and automation over the next 6-12 months. The most frequently cited opportunity is the automation of repetitive and administrative tasks, followed by opportunities for career development and upskilling. A third key area is the integration of AI into daily workflows, embedding it more deeply into core business processes. Figure 5. Top opportunities in relation to workforce deployment of AI and process automation technology in the next 6-12 months 1 Automation of repetitive and administrative tasks 2 Career development and upskilling 3 Embedding AI into daily workflows, making it an integral part of business processes Source: Chief People Officers Survey. (May-June 2025). Chief people officers consulted for this briefing noted that AI should not be seen to be only about efficiency – it can also improve work quality. Reducing repetitive tasks frees up time, while embedding AI into workflows can elevate decision-making, productivity and overall efficiency.Despite optimism around AI deployment, chief people officers also highlighted several near-term risks for their workforce (Figure 6). The top concern is that employees may not adapt or upskill quickly enough to keep pace with new technologies. This is followed by fears of career stagnation and skill atrophy due to over-reliance on AI. Ethical and data privacy concerns rank third. 3 World Economic Forum. (2025b); World Economic Forum. (2024).