I’ll be honest. When I hear HR leaders talk about AI in the workplace like it’s some far-off concept they’re “exploring,” it’s a little confusing to me. I’m 22. I’ve had AI in my pocket since middle school. My generation didn’t just watch technology evolve, we grew up inside of it.
So why is Gen Z still walking into workplaces that feel like they’re stuck in 2012?
It’s a question our research here at Brandon Hall Group™ answers really well. The data is clear: AI is reshaping how organizations develop, engage and retain talent. The organizations that are leaning into that shift are pulling ahead and Gen Z, the most tech-native generation in history, is paying close attention to which employers are keeping up.
AI Isn’t Coming. It’s Already Here.
Let me put some numbers on this. According to Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Outlook 2025, AI is rapidly becoming central to HR functions including learning and development, talent management and leadership development. The organizations that are moving fast on this aren’t just keeping up, they’re pulling ahead.
And yet 40% of HR departments still have no formal strategy for AI expansion, according to Brandon Hall Group™ research, despite growing pressure to act. That gap is wild to me. We’re not talking about some experimental technology anymore. We’re talking about tools that can personalize learning, predict skill gaps and support employees in real time.
As our CEO Mike Cooke put it: “The integration of AI into HR, Learning and Talent Management isn’t just a technological upgrade. It’s a fundamental reimagining of how we develop, engage and empower our workforce.”
That reimagining needs to happen now. Not in three years.
Gen Z Expects More From Workplace Tech
Here’s something HR leaders need to understand about my generation: We don’t separate our digital lives from our work lives. We use AI to write, research, solve problems and learn new skills on a daily basis. And according to Brandon Hall Group™ research, 49% of Gen Z employees use AI regularly to improve their skills at work.
So when we show up to a job and the tech stack feels clunky, outdated or just absent, it’s a red flag. It signals that the organization isn’t investing in us the way we’re expected to invest in them.
This matters for retention, too. Brandon Hall Group™ research makes clear that organizations that invest in smart, personalized, technology-driven development are the ones winning Gen Z loyalty. That’s not a coincidence. That’s cause and effect.
The Learning and Development Opportunity Is Huge
This is where I think the biggest opportunity lives for HR and L&D leaders. Gen Z doesn’t want to sit through a generic training module. We learn by doing, by collaborating, by applying things in real situations. AI makes that possible at scale in a way that was never feasible before.
Brandon Hall Group™ research shows that only 42% of organizations report strong alignment between learning initiatives and business goals. That’s a problem for every employee, but it hits differently for a generation that came in expecting development to be continuous, relevant and personalized.
Michael Rochelle, our Chief Strategy Officer and Principal Analyst, framed it well: “What sets the leading organizations apart is the focus on balancing Human Intelligence with AI. HR leaders must become change agents guiding transformation, without losing the human element that drives organizational success.”
That balance is exactly what Gen Z is looking for. We’re not asking for AI to replace the human parts of work. We’re asking for technology that makes learning smarter, feedback faster and career paths clearer.
The Organizations Getting It Right
The good news is that some organizations are absolutely nailing this. Brandon Hall Group’s Excellence in Technology Awards have recognized companies using AI to drive real, measurable outcomes in learning and development. From personalized microlearning platforms to generative AI tools that support employees in real time, the playbook exists. It just needs to be adopted more widely.
As Rachel Cooke, our COO, said about this year’s award winners: “The winners exemplify how technology can unlock new possibilities, improving performance, enabling smarter decision-making and transforming how organizations support and develop their people.”
That’s the standard. And honestly? It’s not out of reach for most organizations. It just requires committing to it.
A Note to HR and L&D Leaders
If you’re reading this and thinking about how to better engage Gen Z at your organization, here’s my honest take: We’re not hard to retain if you invest in us the right way. Give us tools that actually work. Give us learning that’s personalized and connected to real career growth. Use AI to make our development smarter, not just faster.
We grew up in a world where technology adapted to us. We’re going to gravitate toward workplaces that do the same.
The research backs it up. The tools are there. Now it’s just about making it happen.
