New research from talent management company Talogy, has shown a concerning gap between the pace AI is changing compared to our ability to understand, measure, or develop the human capabilities that determine where AI will create value in the long-term.
The study, which was conducted among 207 senior HR leaders, talent acquisition managers, and learning and development experts, extended to both the US and the UK and spanned seven vertical sectors – manufacturing, retail and commerce, financial services and fintech, healthcare, technology, and the public sector and government.
HR leaders expressed concern for the speed of AI adoption, which is outpacing that of AI skills assessment. 78 per cent admitted facing real challenges when assessing AI skills, with only 38 per cent feeling “very prepared” to adapt traditional job descriptions and career paths for an AI-enabled world.
The study also revealed that talent assessment frameworks are commonplace, currently being used by 87 per cent of organisations for most or all roles. However, users share common complaints, with the most common one being frameworks are often too generic and provide no role-specific insights, followed by the shallowness or complete lack of consideration for much-valued transferable skills.
When asked about assessing AI fluency, 78 per cent emphasised that future assessments must move beyond technical tool proficiency to provide a thorough evaluation of AI readiness, including critical judgment and data literacy to use AI safely and effectively – and make sense of the information it provides.
The most important skills are largely transferable, softer skills, core to the values of today’s organisations and now some of the strongest indicators of how effectively people are working with AI.
HR leaders listed the most important capabilities as:
- AI tool proficiency (48 per cent)
- Data literacy (43 per cent)
- Adaptability (42 per cent)
- Problem solving (40 per cent)
- Judgement and critical thinking (36 per cent)
The challenge now goes beyond identifying these capabilities to understanding how they work collaboratively in a real-life setting – and how they can be measured consistently.
Commenting on the study’s results, Dawn Curless, VP, Global Marketing at Talogy said: “AI is reshaping talent management faster than most HR teams can design frameworks. The challenge organisations now face is defining, assessing, and developing the relevant transferable skills needed to drive better outcomes alongside AI. That’s why, at Talogy, we offer a comprehensive range of talent assessments that can be combined to create the perfect solution for every need.
“From identifying and developing high potential talent to mapping emotional intelligence and cognitive ability to support a strong company culture, it’s vital to combine proven scientific methodology with the flexibility HR leaders need to adapt to specific roles and career paths,” she added.
Read more about the study’s results, and find out about Talogy’s assessment solutions.
