In the AI era, HR is redesigning work — and redefining its own capabilities. A ~100-page playbook: from task breakdown to workflow redesign, a methodology you can actually put to work.
PwC’s 2026 research describes AI agents as moving from assistive tools toward workforce counterparts, with verified identity, defined roles, task-specific permissions, and auditable records. Crowe argues for “no orphaned AI agents,” with clear owner, purpose, access, performance, monitoring, change, and offboarding. Workday AI Research is also studying persistent agent memory, explainability, and multi-agent orchestration.
Traditional HR and identity lifecycle thinking is beginning to extend to agents. When agents participate in hiring, employee relations, finance, or other high-impact workflows, ownership, evaluation, and decommissioning become governance questions—not merely IT configuration.
HRAI Forward expects HR to participate in the emerging Human + Agent Lifecycle. Once an agent has a role, permissions, goals, and performance expectations, it begins to exhibit workforce-like characteristics.
In the AI era, HR is redesigning work — and redefining its own capabilities. A ~100-page playbook: from task breakdown to workflow redesign, a methodology you can actually put to work.