HR leaders face emotional strain, but AI optimism surges: report

• 79% feel secure
• 93% expect HR headcount to stay the same or increase
• 90% expect budgets to remain steady or grow.

AI adoption by human resources

The report highlights a strong link between technology adoption and team performance. Globally, 72% of high-performing HR teams use four or more specialized HR tools, compared to an average of three, finds Lattice.

AI is gaining momentum worldwide, with 42% of HR professionals in corporate settings using agentic AI regularly. European HR teams are leading, with 45% using agentic AI, compared to 28% in the US.

Among millennials, 38% report regular use, while only 7% of boomers do. High-performing teams are especially enthusiastic: 52% are “really excited” about AI’s potential, compared to 32% of teams not meeting goals, and 50% use agentic AI regularly, versus just 6% of low performers.

As agentic AI goes to the forefront of many conversations, HR teams are now asking: “What happens when AI can pull the strings on its own?” says Lattice: “Unlike generative AI, which generates outputs based on prompts, agentic AI can plan, act, and adapt autonomously.”

While few HR teams have reached AI maturity, 83% of HR professionals are either excited, hopeful, or optimistic about outsourcing to agentic A, finds the survey.