During a panel discussion at the CES tech conference earlier this month, three HR pros were asked by moderator Tiffany Moore, the Consumer Technology Association’s VP of political and industry affairs, to discuss where people strategy and human capital fits into the ongoing AI transformation.

Agreed early in the session was the irreplaceable value the human workforce brings to any successes as AI changes how work gets done.

“We think about artificial intelligence, it should really be accelerating intelligence, or amplifying intelligence, because it’s a helper, but the human instinct is critical,” Moore said.

Salesforce’s chief equity and engagement officer, Alexandra Siegel, suggested that the ongoing technological transformation we've experienced for the last few years across companies and industries worldwide is, in fact, actually, a people transformation.

For more on why the ongoing AI transformation is actually a people transformation, keep reading here.—AD

While many countries, from the US to the Netherlands to Singapore, have experienced hiring slowdowns since 2019, India has seen a surge. Hiring in the country is up 40%, according to LinkedIn. But that doesn’t mean workers are satisfied. In fact, most are planning their next move.

India has an estimated 924 million working-age people, and the majority (72%) of its professionals are actively seeking new roles, according to a recent LinkedIn survey reported by the Times of India. However, 84% of those surveyed said they feel “unprepared” to find a job, and 76% said the process has become more difficult.

While job seekers are increasingly using AI—94% said they plan to use the tech to find new work—some feel it’s a hindrance, with 66% saying the interview process has become less personal.

Job seekers aren’t the only ones struggling in this otherwise positive market. Most recruiters (74%) said it’s become harder to find talent, as the rate of applications per open position has more than doubled since 2022, according to the Economic Times.

For more on India’s unique job market, keep reading here.—KP

Cash rules everything around AI.

That’s what we heard at CES. Investment in AI is higher than ever, but the financial calculations are less about the hot new opportunities and more about implementing the technology in a way that makes sense for specific use cases.

Dallas Dolen, a technology principal with PwC, told IT Brew that we’re at the midpoint of the AI revolution. Investors need to understand that the ROI on their spend may not come until 2030, he said, and that’s barring any uncertainty.

For more on what’s going on with AI investments, keep reading on IT Brew.—EH