This article kicks off our expert-led series on the top trends shaping Talent Acquisition (TA) in 2025. In a recent webinar, our in-house experts—Allison Latham, Evan Martino, and Dr. Andrew Monroe—came together to unpack the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing TA teams this year.

Across the series, we explore three major shifts:

• The growing impact of AI on recruiting
• New approaches to workforce planning
• The evolving DEI landscape

 

In this first article, we dive into AI adoption—how candidates are using it, how recruiters are responding, and how it’s transforming the role of the recruiter itself.

 

Nearly a third of candidates are now using AI to assist with applications. How is this impacting how TA teams are evaluating and selecting top talent?

Dr. Monroe breaks down two major challenges: the surge in application volume and how AI is making candidate submissions increasingly similar. Plus, the use of assessments to combat both challenges.

 

How are Heads of TA approaching AI integration?

Allison outlines two emerging mindsets among Heads of TA: AI Evangelists, who view AI as a game-changer for recruiting, and AI Skeptics, who remain cautious due to legal and ethical concerns. Increasingly, though, many leaders are landing somewhere in between—curious about AI’s potential but taking a thoughtful, measured approach to adoption.

See How Talent Acquisition Leaders Are Using AI Across the Funnel. Explore 129 AI Use Cases

 

How are leading teams redefining recruiter roles in the age of automation?

Evan explains how the conversation has shifted from “Will AI replace recruiters?” to “How will recruiter roles evolve?” He explores how teams are adapting with AI agents and other key tools.

 

Overall, the experts agree that AI won’t replace recruiters but rather reshape their role into something more strategic. As top-of-funnel tasks like sourcing and résumé screening become automated, recruiters are being freed up to take on more advisory responsibilities. They’re evolving into talent advisors—consulting hiring managers, aligning talent strategy with business goals, and focusing on high-impact human connections. This transformation is well underway and expected to accelerate throughout 2025.