The AI Advantage: HR’s Playbook For 2026

We’ve officially crossed the tipping point – AI is no longer experimental, it’s operational, and the teams leaning in are rewriting what HR can deliver.

AI is already doing real work inside HR departments – writing policies, guiding decisions, shaping employee experience and eliminating hours of admin. It’s also reshaping the way payroll is run, how workforce risk is identified, and the way businesses find, match and hire talent. The teams winning right now aren’t asking if they should use AI – they’re learning how to apply it intelligently, safely and strategically.

Join Employment Hero’s experts for a practical and myth-busting session designed to show HR and people operations leaders exactly how to unlock AI’s power in 2026. We’ll take a clear look at where AI is already proving its value, unpack the tools transforming people operations, and demonstrate how combining technology with human insight creates a smarter, more strategic and more human HR and people ops function.

You’ll see examples of AI across core workflows — HR admin, payroll accuracy, recruitment pipelines and employee experience — and walk away with a playbook you can put into action immediately.

Whether you’re cautious, curious or already experimenting, this session will give you clarity, confidence and momentum to lead the charge — not just react to it.

You’ll learn:

• Real-world ways AI is reshaping HR today
• How AI supports (not replaces) human judgment and people expertise
• Where HR teams are gaining the fastest wins with automation and insight
• What to embrace, what to ignore, and how to avoid common traps
• Practical next steps to build an AI-enabled HR function in 2026

This session is designed for HR and people leaders, business owners and managers who want to move beyond the noise and start using AI as a genuine competitive advantage. Whether you’re part of a small, time-poor HR team or oversee the entire HR function in your business, you’ll leave with practical clarity on how AI can support your work, strengthen your impact and transform the way your organisation manages its people in 2026.