Weekender Digest
WEEKLY EDITION BY ZIHAN LYU
Welcome to your latest HRD Connect's Weekend Digest, your go-to source for the week’s top insights tailored for HR professionals.
Here’s what’s inside:
◾ Preparing HR for the age of human-AI collaboration
◾ Top 10 AI HR tools every business needs in 2025
◾ Why automation is making work more human
TOP LONG WEEKEND READS
FUTURE OF WORK
As agentic AI moves from theory to practice, HR leaders face a new reality: the rise of a hybrid workforce made up of both humans and autonomous AI agents.
Org charts may soon list digital co-workers alongside employees, with some functions operating as “zero-FTE departments.” In this new landscape, HR will need to oversee, onboard, and evaluate AI agents. From AI-led coaching and performance feedback to automated recruitment flows, agentic AI is already transforming key people functions.
The shift brings both promise and pressure—and HR has a pivotal role to play. This article also explores five proactive steps HR teams can take today to lead their organizations.

AI HR TOOLS
AI is now reshaping how HR hires, supports, and retains talent. With adoption rates soaring, this guide highlights 10 standout AI tools making an impact right now.
From Paradox streamlining candidate screening to Degreed personalizing learning at scale, and Lattice co-writing your performance reviews, these platforms are already changing the way HR operates. Get familiar with the tech your peers are testing—and the results they’re seeing.

EXPERT INSIGHTS
The rise of AI is cutting admin—but it’s also amplifying what makes people essential. New data shows AI is most often used to summarize reports (41%) and draft documents (40%), freeing up hours for communication, mentoring, and collaboration.
Deloitte predicts two-thirds of all roles by 2030 will be soft-skill intensive, but 49% of executives still say entry-level hires lack those skills. AI can’t replace trust, empathy, or team cohesion—but it can make space for people to build them. The smartest companies are using that time to grow better humans.

MORE THAN A NEWSLETTER
Editorial
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