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The glaring shift in focus at this year's HR Technology Conference was hard to ignore. Artificial intelligence, automation tech and data-driven talent tech dominated keynotes, panels and sessions. The message was clear: AI is the future of HR. It’s as if this year’s HR Tech Conference decided to lean in to the ‘tech’ part of HR Tech.
But in the midst of this excitement, one crucial aspect of the HR side took a back seat. Namely, employee experience. Compared to previous years, when EX was front and center in conversations about effective HR strategy, it felt almost like an afterthought this year.
Are we just chasing the latest trend or does this mark a fundamental shift away from what makes HR work in the first place — people?
We Know Why AI Is Stealing the Spotlight
The reason for AI's current dominance should be familiar to every work leader: it promises immediate, tangible returns. With the pressure on HR leaders to deliver results quickly and with many companies laying off staff, AI’s promise to streamline operations, automate routine tasks and do more with less is a major draw. AI offers a shortcut to efficiency, which resonates in today’s weird economic environment.
That’s not just a hunch. The numbers tell the true story. At this year’s conference, sessions dedicated to AI outnumber those focused on EX by a staggering margin. By my count, more than 15 sessions directly addressed AI and its impact on HR, from talent acquisition to workforce analytics. That doesn't count the ancillary sessions that mentioned AI as part of the strategy, which would then encompass every session.
By contrast, only a handful of sessions specifically focused on employee experience — and many of those were run by the tech providers themselves. Only a few years ago, employee experience dominated the conference as everyone was trying to figure out how to attract and retain people.
To be fair, some AI sessions mentioned EX — often framed as something AI could improve — but it was clear what was in the spotlight. AI is being positioned as the solution to everything from recruitment challenges to making sense of skills-based talent strategies.
Related Article: It's Time to Change the Narrative About Employee Experience
Employee Experience Takes a Back Seat — But Not For Long
While AI dominated the conversation this year, EX isn’t disappearing. Over the past few years, companies have invested heavily in employee experience strategies, embedding them into their overall talent approach. Many now see EX as foundational, something that’s assumed rather than explicitly highlighted.
But sidelining or minimizing EX is risky and shortsighted. AI can offer quick wins, but without a strong employee experience, those wins aren’t sustainable. Employees who feel disengaged or unsupported won’t make the most of new tools, and those who feel threatened by AI might actively resist them. The long-term cost of neglecting EX could be significant:
- Burnout and Disengagement: Employees are already under pressure to adapt to new technologies. If they feel unsupported or disconnected, AI won’t fix the resulting drop in engagement. High turnover rates, reduced productivity, and a negative workplace culture are inevitable.
- Resistance to Change: Implementing AI without a strong focus on EX will likely meet resistance. Employees who don’t feel valued — or who fear AI could replace them — won’t embrace the new technologies, making adoption much harder.
- Long-Term Cost: While AI offers short-term efficiency, the long-term cost of neglecting EX could outweigh AI's benefits. Organizations could face higher turnover, recruitment challenges, low morale and reduced innovation.
In the rush to automate and streamline HR, companies that fail to prioritize EX may find their AI initiatives fall flat. The technology is only as effective as the people using it, and if those people aren’t engaged or supported, the investment in AI won’t deliver the expected returns. The pendulum will eventually swing back toward employees, because without a focus on their well-being, companies will struggle to maintain engagement, productivity and innovation in an increasingly automated workplace.
Related Article: Forrester Predicts an EX Winter Is Coming. How to Prepare
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Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo Orlando 2025
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27
Gartner HR Symposium/Xpo Orlando 2025
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The Future of EX: A Comeback Is Inevitable
Right now, AI is the darling of HR Tech — both the conference and the industry. However, the clock is ticking on EX’s hiatus. While AI promises efficiency, companies will soon face the reality that without a strong employee experience, those gains are short-lived.
AI can’t replace the need for engaged, motivated employees. And as organizations encounter the challenges of maintaining culture, well-being and engagement in an increasingly automated workplace, EX will return to the spotlight — stronger than before.
The future of HR isn’t just about automating boring tasks that nobody wants to do. It should be about using technology to enhance the human side of work. Companies that keep EX at the heart of their strategy, even amid the AI buzz, will be the ones that thrive.
