Tim Pratte, CEO of Selerix, writes about common issues that drain HR tech budgets, such as redundant systems, software-as-a-service overload and excessive customization. Pratte advises companies to audit their tech stacks, prioritize integration and compliance and make data-driven decisions to ensure systems are scalable and efficient.

Social media ranks only behind family members in influencing career choices for people ages 16 to 21 in the UK, according to a study by Ravensbourne University London. The research also noted a shift toward apprenticeships, with 25% of A-level students opting for them, up from 15% in 2022, according to data from careers advisory firm Prospects at Jisc.

Exaggerated promises around AI -- especially visions of fully autonomous, agentic AI -- are creating risky expectations for human resources leaders, writes Gleb Tsipursky, the CEO of Disaster Avoidance Experts, who warns that promises of effortless, rapid transformation often gloss over the significant challenges of reliability, integration and security. Taking a more pragmatic view and using AI where it's strong, such as automating invoice processing or drafting claims letters, will produce more success and less frustration, Tsipursky notes.

Agentic AI is driving a fundamental shift in the work paradigm by collaborating with humans and acting independently to achieve business goals. This new model not only optimizes current processes, but it also reimagines workflows, transforming operations and weaving human and machine efforts.

AI is transforming corporate hierarchies by automating tasks, eliminating middle management and redefining job roles. Companies like Amazon, Moderna and McKinsey & Co. are creating flatter structures, with new AI leadership positions emerging in the C-suite. While some fear the extinction of middle management, experts, like Tristan Botelho, an associate professor of organizational behavior at Yale School of Management, argue that these roles will evolve rather than vanish.

US companies have made significant progress in returning employees to offices, with 69% now monitoring attendance, according to an upcoming CBRE report. The survey of 184 companies finds that nearly three-quarters have achieved attendance goals. In addition, 67% plan to maintain or expand their office footprints during the next three years.

California's universities and community colleges are offering free AI training to students through partnerships with Google, Microsoft, Adobe and IBM to prepare students for a workforce increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the initiative amid layoffs at major tech companies, highlighting the importance of AI literacy.

Google has pledged $1 billion to expand AI education and job training, building on its Career Certificates program. This investment will provide free AI training and 12 months of complimentary Google AI Pro access to college students in the US, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and Brazil.