FlexOS | AI in HR Today with Anthony Onesto
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FlexOS | AI in HR Today with Anthony Onesto
Issue #
26

How AI is Impacting the Workforce

FlexOS | AI in HR Today with Anthony Onesto
by Anthony Onesto

AI is rewriting the future of work—HR leaders must upskill, adapt, and lead the charge into a smarter, faster era.

How AI is Impacting the Workforce

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than a tool; it fundamentally reshapes work, redefines in-demand jobs, and will help you drive important business objectives. As an HR leader you are likely contemplating how to prepare your people and organization for this seismic shift. You are likely being tasked to understand how to bring AI into the organization, while also running the operations of your HR functions. I wrote about how you can be a key element of this effort in a recent blog post - check it out. I know, this is yet another thing the business has put on your already overloaded “buffet” plate. I’ve been there and want to help you navigate all these changes with practical and actionable advice coming from someone that has been in your position.

In this post, I will review critical insights and findings from the Revelio Labs report, ​"AI at Work: The State of AI Adoption in 2025"​, giving you a clear-eyed and HR-relevant perspective on how AI is impacting roles, talent pipelines, and the very skills your teams will need. These human capital efforts aren’t just about weathering the change; it's about equipping you with insights to lead your workforce into a future where AI and human talent combine to drive business impact. The future of work is unfolding now, are you ready?

TOGETHER WITH

Let's Look at the Numbers

Side note: when you see the term “AI exposure” that is where AI can do parts of a job and “AI adoption” is whether you're using AI to be more productive.

The data from the Revelio Labs report reveals AI's tangible impact.

  • Human-Centric Roles Gaining Ground - demand for roles with low AI exposure surged by approximately 400% between January 2010 and 2024. The demand significantly outpaced high-exposure roles, which grew by about 200% in the same period. When AI handles routine work, the value of uniquely human skills is increasing.
  • Adoption is Key in Exposed Roles - within highly AI-exposed fields, roles demonstrating high AI adoption saw job posting grow between 450-500% during January 2010 and 2024. This growth starkly contrasts with low-adoption roles in similar fields, which saw growth closer to 150-200%. This indicates that AI augments productivity and a demand for those who embrace it. This proves the saying “AI won’t take your job, someone who knows AI will.”
  • Entry-Level Roles Evolving - the average AI exposure score in new job postings for early-career roles dropped from approximately 32.5% in January 2022 to around 27.5% by July 2024. This decline in AI-augmentable tasks suggests companies are redesigning these positions, moving automatable work to AI, and reshaping what "entry-level" experience entails.

AI Isn't Stealing Your Job, It's Giving It a Makeover

So, what's the real deal with AI and our jobs? The Revelio Labs report confirms that AI isn't solely a job stealer; it's a job transformer. Which echoes a sentiment I've long held: disrupt yourself before you get disrupted. AI is a massive catalyst here. The critical factor isn't just whether AI can do parts of a job (AI exposure), but whether you're using AI to do a job better (AI adoption).

The report's "productivity matrix" thinking is spot on: high AI exposure paired with high adoption (as seen among many data scientists) leads to increased productivity and demand. Conversely, high exposure with low adoption is the real danger zone. Meanwhile, roles with low AI exposure, often reliant on interpersonal or manual skills, are seeing demand grow as companies seek abilities AI can't yet replicate. This shift underscores the growing importance of uniquely human skills: critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Anyone who has worked with me knows that I refer to these skills as “power skills.”

We must also address the equity issues. With AI adoption concentrated in higher-paying jobs and reports suggesting gender disparities in AI tool usage, there's a risk of widening existing gaps. Many AI-exposed roles, like administrative positions, will require AI upskilling to ensure equity. Thoughtful AI integration, however, can boost employee morale, as evidenced in firms where AI adoption is correlated with higher employee satisfaction.

HR leaders can actively shape the AI revolution. For employees, this means embracing continuous learning and proactively integrating AI to enhance work. For employers and HR leaders, it's about redesigning roles strategically, investing in AI fluency for teams, and fostering an adaptive and changing culture. HR leaders must embed AI literacy across all fields to prepare the next generation.

The future of work is AI-augmented - Humans + Machines. HR must help architect this future to enhance human potential and create new opportunities.

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