AI FOR HR NEWS

AI Agents Hit the Workplace: Managing Risks While Breaking Language Barriers

AI for HR Hub Newsletter | July 9, 2025

Hello, readers of the AI for HR Hub!

This week, artificial intelligence in the workplace continues to evolve, shifting from productivity-boosting tools to fully autonomous agents of change. In HR, we hope for the best. No area of work or life seems untouched by AI's expanding reach, and the new demand for a more inclusive workforce has found interesting applications in AI training and deployment.

Agentic AI Deployment Accelerates Despite Risks

A recent study from KPMG indicates that around one-third of organizations have now fully implemented AI technologies that can achieve a level of autonomy (what KPMG calls "agentic AI"). This is a threefold increase over the last few quarters and is now led by the financial services sector.

Most, however, are still in pilot mode; 57% of the companies surveyed are currently testing AI agents with an eye toward future deployment. These intelligent systems, capable of acting independently, are now viewed not just as cost-cutting tools but also as strategic assets that could drive significant business model changes.

The challenge: These changes involve risk, and the most significant risk is that AI will be trained on data that embodies historical or structural bias. According to KPMG, 57% of employees admit to making AI-fueled mistakes, often because they haven't been adequately trained in how to use the tools their employers have provided.

The bottom line: Most companies need to take their governance frameworks for AI very seriously if they want to meet the promises they've made to stakeholders.

Walmart Rolls Out AI Tools to Break Language Barriers for Associates

Walmart is deploying AI-powered, real-time translation tools for its 1.5 million US associates, integrated within its associate app, enabling multilingual conversations in 44 languages, including text and speech formats, and even recognizing retailer-specific terms like its private label, "Great Value."

This is a significant step to support frontline employees in serving diverse customers and collaborating in as many languages as needed. It's also a surreal, mind-blowing, and very sci-fi/Star Trek-ish move.

The bigger question: Can we infer that what we have seen (and rightly pointed out) as the operational barrier that HR has built for non-English speaking employees is soon going to be rendered moot? Will we have inclusive workplaces where all employees can engage in conversations at the level needed for effective customer service and to ensure the smooth operation of our internal workings?

If we do not address the operational barrier that technology can help overcome, preventing non-English speaking employees from being as engaged in the workplace as their English-speaking counterparts, then we are missing a fundamental opportunity to create truly inclusive workplaces.

Payroll Under Pressure: How AI Bridges Talent Shortages

Payroll departments are becoming increasingly complex due to evolving regulations and global workforces, yet the profession is shrinking as payroll professionals retire and the new generation opts for other careers. Next to the departure of baby boomers, the primary reason for the talent pool shrinkage is bad branding. Most prospective college students have no idea what "payroll" even means.

Innovative artificial intelligence tools are now performing not only routine processes but also the more complex task of payroll analytics that workers once handled. They use natural language to write (or program) the commands that tell the machine what to do and how to behave.

What this means: AI is stepping in to fill critical gaps in payroll expertise while potentially making the field more accessible to new talent through simplified interfaces and automated processes.

What This Means for HR Leaders

The rapid deployment of AI agents presents both tremendous opportunities and significant challenges:

Opportunities:

• Breaking down language barriers for truly inclusive workplaces

• Automating complex processes in areas facing talent shortages

• Strategic transformation beyond simple cost-cutting

Challenges:

• Managing bias and ethical risks in AI systems

• Training employees to use AI tools effectively

• Developing robust governance frameworks

The key is moving thoughtfully—embracing AI's potential while building the guardrails necessary for responsible implementation.

Action Items for This Week

1. Assess your current AI governance framework - Do you have clear policies for AI use?

2. Evaluate language barriers in your workplace - Could translation tools improve inclusion?

3. Review your payroll processes - Where could AI help bridge talent gaps?

Final Thoughts

AI continues to reshape HR at breakneck speed. The organizations that will thrive are those that can balance innovation with responsibility, ensuring that these powerful tools serve to create more inclusive, efficient, and strategic HR functions.

Stay informed, stay thoughtful, and continue to lead with both courage and care.

See you next week!

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Other Key Headlines

• Nearly 6 out of 10 workers admit making AI-fueled errors — Underscores urgent need for clear AI use policies and training in organizations.

• Younger workers say tough job market is pushing them to lie on resumes — Highlights ethical challenges in AI-assisted recruiting and resume screening.

• Judge allows Workday AI bias lawsuit to proceed as collective action — Puts spotlight on legal risks around AI bias, pressing HR to lead with fairness and transparency.

• Half of Gen Z ChatGPT users say they view it as a co-worker — Reflects shifting employee relationships with AI as collaborative partners.

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HR's New AI Assistants: Helpful, Hardworking, and Still Figuring Things Out

Photorealistic Visual:"A whimsical office scene showing AI robots and human HR professionals working together in harmony - an AI robot wearing a tiny HR badge is helping translate between employees speaking different languages (with colorful speech bubbles in various languages), another robot is juggling payroll documents while a human colleague gives it a thumbs up, and a third robot is sitting at a desk with a 'Training in Progress' sign, looking slightly confused with question marks floating above its head. The humans are laughing and looking relaxed despite the chaos. Bright, cheerful cartoon style with warm colors, conveying that AI in HR can be both helpful and amusingly imperfect." 

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Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

AI for HR Hub™ Team