The Josh Bersin Company

Today, as we read more stories about various layoffs (often using AI as an explanation), I’d like to suggest a big idea. AI Agents, defined as “Talent Redeployment Agents,” may be one of the most powerful new use-cases for AI in HR.

No I’m not talking about AI randomly selecting people and zapping them by email based on financial results (that could happen I suppose), but something much bigger. Listen in as I explain how the “decoupling” of workers from their employers has led to a new era of dynamic employee redeployment, which is only possible with AI.

We’re deep into studying these Superagent use-cases in companies around the world so if this conversation gets you excited (I think it will), please get hold of us we’d like to explain more.

Additional Information

Should an AI Agent Be Able To Fire You? Yes, And It’s Likely To Go Well.

Gloat Enters The Crowded War For AI Agents in HR

Why AI Is A Massive Job-Creation Technology, Despite What You Think

Be Careful With The Layoffs

Get Galileo, the AI Superagent for HR

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Way Companies Are Layoff
(00:09:18) - The AI Talent Mobility Agent

Today I want to give you a peek into the huge topic of “building AI literacy.” We work with hundreds of companies and vendors that offer many types of training so I wanted to give you an overview.

This is a fast-changing topic because there’s a raging debate about what “skills” AI users need (ie. complex thinking? business acumen?). I do know AI learns from language so if you can’t put your needs or wishes into logical statements, you won’t get the most out of AI. But, as I explain, there are a range of other issues as well.

I also discuss how we teach people about bias, risk, auditability, data quality, tuning, and how “vibe coding” is a bit more complex than you think.

If you’re really stumped about how to use AI in your work, I urge you to get Galileo, our AI Agent specifically designed for HR, business leaders, and human capital consultants. It includes 400+ reusable workflows to get you started and an entire library of 700+ courses on various AI and HR topics.

We have received a spectacular group of AI Pacesetter applications and many explain how a particular company built AI literacy in detail. Come to Irresistible 2026 (June 8-10 in LA) to get the details.

(Check out the US Department of Labor’s AI-Ready Initiative too.)

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Advocacy of AI literacy
(00:01:26) - Six Rules of AI Training
(00:08:53) - Pacesetter: Trust, Security, and Legal Risk

This week I share my conversation with Ashutosh Garg, founder of pioneering unicorn Eightfold. Eightfold was the first mainstream AI company focused on HR and recruiting, and as you’ll hear Ashu continues to innovate in many ways.

I ask Ashutosh to talk about the market, the change in the AI landscape, and his vision for the future of Eightfold and job seeking. He also explains his career and how he became so successful, and where his career has taken him with his digital twin company Viven.ai. (We use Viven and can attest to its enormous potential.)

This convo should teach you a lot about the AI market and also give you career insights into one of the many entrepreneurs shaping our future. We have worked closely with Eightfold for many years and I find Ashutosh’s career inspiring and filled with lessons for all of us.

Additional Information

Eightfold Reaches Billion Dollar Valuation (2020)

The Eleven 2026 Imperatives for Enterprise AI

Why AI Is A Massive Job-Creation Technology, Despite What You Think

Get Galileo, the AI Superagent for HR, Consultants, and Leaders

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Interviewing Ashutosh Garg on AI
(00:00:35) - In the Elevator With Eightfold
(00:08:17) - Is AI Involving the Interviewing Process Possible?
(00:14:20) - Does AI Bias Affect Job Interviews?
(00:16:37) - What should high-tech and research people know about entrepreneurship and business
(00:18:11) - What is the Digital Twin?
(00:22:24) - A Week in the Life of AI

Four big topics in this podcast. First I give you more detail on jobs and careers in the AI age, and explain why MORE jobs than ever are being created. (Read the details here.) Then I discuss the huge disruption about to take place in the software integration and middleware market. (A multi-billion dollar space for vendors and consulting firms.) Third I discuss the pioneering work by Findem and how human data labeling (and automated labeling) is the next frontier in search, recruiting, and talent intelligence.

Finally I talk about my sincere and humble “thank you” to all of you that follow us and how we built Galileo to scale our work.

(Join us at Irresistible 2026 to see the top 15 AI Pacesetters in HR.)

Additional Information

Why AI Is A Massive Job Creation Technology

Workday and Sana Unveil A Bold New Strategy For AI

Agents, Superagents, and Intelligent Orchestration: 2026 Imperatives for Enterprise AI

The L&D Revolution Has Arrived: AI Enables Dynamic Enablement For All

Get Galileo, the AI Superagent for HR

 

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Jobs and the job market
(00:02:48) - Will the Self-Driving Car Change Your Career?
(00:04:25) - The Future of Interconnections in HR Software
(00:08:22) - How AI is Affecting Recruitment
(00:17:46) - A message for the AI Technology community

Today I move beyond a discussion of AI products and technologies to the real business problem: finding ways to USE AI to further your company’s particular, unique business strategy.

There’s a strange phenomenon going on: companies think AI itself will improve productivity “just because it exists.” Well nothing could be further from the truth. As these three examples point out, you should focus on “HOW” you’re going to use AI to forward the strategy, not build a strategy around AI.

As these tools become more common this will be clearer and clearer. And the AI vendors (particularly the big ones) are making us crazy with stories of AI “strategies” that feel generic and unachievable.

I hope this helps you feel grounded and ready to focus in this crazy world of new tools, platforms, and vendors.

I also want to invite you to the Transform conference in Vegas where we’ll be talking about a new partnership we’re starting with Leena.ai, a vendor that delivers a new generation of employee services by connecting tools like Galileo to more than 100 different applications and internal systems.

Additional Information

What Is AI Orchestration And Why Is It So Important?

Workday and Sana Unveil A Bold New Strategy For AI

Agents and Superagents: 2026 Imperatives for Enterprise AI

The L&D Revolution Has Arrived: AI Enables Dynamic Enablement For All

Get Galileo, the AI Superagent for HR (experience Sana for yourself)

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Employee AI: Business Cases
(00:01:22) - The Skills Taxonomy for Large Services Companies
(00:07:02) - Six steps towards an AI-driven bank
(00:10:23) - The 3 challenges of L&D training