AI in HR: A Helping Hand, Not a Replacement
AI in HR: A Helping Hand, Not a Replacement
At the recent HR Summit in Brussels, Koen Stam, Head of Benelux at Personio, shared a grounded and realistic view on AI’s role in HR. Artificial intelligence, he believes, is not here to replace human resource professionals. But it can become a valuable assistant.
AI, according to Koen Stam, has the potential to free up time, not take over roles. “It can help HR teams work more efficiently, but at the end of the day, it’s still a people profession,” the Head of People & Culture at Personio said. The fundamentals remain unchanged: hiring, developing, and retaining top talent. What AI can offer is space. Space to have meaningful conversations, focus on leadership, and invest in people.
From repetition to smart automation
One of the most immediate benefits of AI lies in automating the repetitive tasks that often consume a large portion of HR’s time. Stam pointed out that while automation is nothing new, AI adds a layer of intelligence: “It learns from your behaviour and begins suggesting workflows you may not have thought of yourself.”
“This kind of proactive support can significantly reduce manual work and give HR professionals more room to focus on strategic initiatives.”
Strategy must always come from people
When it comes to strategic decision-making, Koen Stam draws a clear line. AI can assist with analysis, preparation, and documentation, but the direction must always come from people.
“Strategic decisions need to be made through human alignment,” he explained. “AI can sharpen the conversation, speed up the process and provide broader perspectives, but it doesn’t replace the need for leadership dialogue.”
Go beyond the generic
With AI becoming a buzzword across industries, HR leaders are often asked what they’re doing with the technology. But Stam turns the question around: what do you actually want AI to solve?
In his experience, many use cases remain surface-level. Stam: “The real impact happens when organisations take a step back, identify real needs, and align AI tools to business goals, always with compliance and people’s data privacy top of mind.”
His advice to HR professionals is simple: be curious and go deeper. “If you ask generic questions, you’ll get generic answers,” he said. “Instead, explore how AI can support your specific challenges. The result? You’ll unlock its true potential.”
“AI can sharpen the conversation, speed up the process and provide broader perspectives, but it doesn’t replace the need for leadership dialogue.” — Koen Stam, Head of Benelux at Personio