AI, Data & the Future of HR: What Actually Matters in 2026

Talk HR kicks off 2026 with a timely conversation on how HR leaders can keep up with the accelerating pace of change — especially as AI evolves month-to-month and expectations around data fluency, technology, and business acumen continue to rise. Hosts Harrison Newman and Samantha DiMercurio welcome Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and author of Artificial Intelligence for HR, to help HR leaders cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters this year.Ben shares his “HR origin story,” why he shifted from traditional HR leadership into research, and how the profession can use technology to scale a high-touch, human-centered approach — without losing what makes HR indispensable.Key Moments:00:06: New Year kickoff and why HR leadership must evolve in 202600:45: AI, data fluency, and the rising expectations facing HR leaders02:48: Ben Eubanks’ HR origin story and shift into research and technology06:27: Why productivity alone is the wrong goal for AI in HR07:45: “Humans are people to be served, not problems to be solved”12:10: How AI-driven hiring risks filtering out great talent22:16: A practical AI win: simplifying open enrollment communication28:22: The next frontier for AI — helping managers become better leaders