IBM Automates 200 HR Roles Using AI, Focuses on Strategic Workforce Shift

IBM Replaces 200 HR Jobs with AI Agents as Part of Strategic Workforce Overhaul

In a move that signals a growing shift within the tech industry, IBM has replaced approximately 200 human resources (HR) roles with AI-powered agents, according to company officials. This transition is part of the company’s broader push to integrate artificial intelligence into its core operations, aiming to improve efficiency and redefine workforce priorities.

CEO Arvind Krishna confirmed the development on Monday, highlighting that while some routine jobs have been automated, overall headcount at IBM has actually increased, thanks to continued hiring in critical areas like programming, marketing, and sales.

The primary functions now being handled by AI include employment verification, internal transfers, and other repetitive HR tasks. This automation enables IBM’s human workforce to concentrate on strategic, decision-making, and interpersonal functions that AI cannot replicate.

Looking ahead, IBM estimates that up to 30% of non-customer-facing roles could be automated over the next five years, potentially impacting nearly 7,800 positions. However, Nickle LaMoreaux, IBM’s Chief Human Resources Officer, emphasized that full job eliminations will be rare. Most positions will evolve as employees are expected to work alongside AI tools, rather than be entirely replaced by them.

This move reflects a larger industry trend, where companies are embracing AI not to replace humans outright, but to augment their capabilities and refocus human effort toward high-impact, creative, and client-centric roles.

While the automation of HR functions raises questions about the future of employment, IBM’s dual strategy of workforce optimization and targeted expansion may serve as a blueprint for how traditional roles evolve in the age of AI.