Businesses worldwide are in a state of ongoing change. Economic uncertainty, technological advancements, and shifting expectations are reshaping how organizations think about talent, value creation, and even the future of the HR function itself.
At Cielo, we recognize that artificial intelligence is causing us to reimagine how work gets done and challenging traditional notions of expertise while elevating the importance of distinctly human skills. To help talent leaders prepare, HRO Today and Cielo partnered to understand: What’s really driving this transformation? How does this differ regionally? What does it mean for the future of work in the next 3-5 years?
Our survey of over 300 senior HR executives across North America, EMEA and APAC regions explores AI’s influence on the shift from specialist to generalist. The findings reveal how AI is reshaping organizational structure, talent development, and more.
Here’s a preview of the research, which will be released in 2026.
3 findings reshaping the future of work
1. Regional variations in AI’s impact
While there's broad agreement that AI will drive the rise of generalist roles, regional perspectives vary significantly. APAC shows the strongest conviction (81%), while North America (59%) and EMEA (68%) demonstrate more measured expectations. These variations likely reflect different stages of AI adoption and varying regulatory approaches across regions.
2. HR leading organizational change
Human Resources departments are expected to be at the forefront of this transformation, with 53% of respondents identifying HR as the function most likely to adopt generalist roles first, followed by customer experience at 47%. This positions HR as a key driver in reshaping how organizations approach talent and work.
3. The growing value of human skills
As AI increasingly handles specialized tasks, human skills are becoming more valuable. Seventy percent of HR leaders believe AI will increase the importance of soft skills, with APAC leaders particularly convinced at 87%. Skills like emotional intelligence, communication, and adaptability are becoming crucial differentiators.
What does this mean?
This is more than just adopting new technologies. It’s about reimagining the very DNA of our organizations – how we structure teams, develop talent, and create value. For HR leaders standing at this crossroads, this is both daunting and exciting: How do we shape organizations to thrive on adaptability? How do we nurture workforces that see change not as a threat, but as an opportunity?
The future belongs to those who can navigate this shifting landscape with agility and vision. While AI may handle the specialized tasks, it's the human ability to connect dots, build relationships, and see the bigger picture that will truly drive success.
Moving forward, the most valuable talent may not be the deep specialist, but rather the adaptable generalist who can orchestrate across domains, leverage AI effectively, and lead through change.
Stay tuned for the full research report, which will be released in 2026.