HR technology products are increasingly incorporating voice and video capabilities as add-ons or core features, according to the IEEE Future Directions "Technology Megatrends 2030" report. Gartner projects that within two years, 30% of Fortune 500 companies will rely solely on just one AI-enabled channel that can handle text, image and sound communication. This trend points to a near future where voice and video interfaces are central to both employee and customer engagement.

North Korean operatives have successfully infiltrated IT, sales and health care companies in the US and Europe by posing as legitimate remote workers. Using fake identities and sophisticated technical tactics -- such as VPNs, KVM devices and proxy services -- they apply for jobs, complete onboarding processes and perform assigned tasks while sending earnings and sensitive company data back to North Korea. They often use stolen identities and synchronize documentation.

Union contracts are becoming a significant source of AI governance, offering practical guidance for HR leaders on employee participation and conflict prevention, writes Disaster Avoidance Experts CEO Gleb Tsipursky, who notes that such contracts include provisions for notice, bargaining and safeguards, highlighting the importance of defining roles and responsibilities before AI deployment. HR can use these examples to build mechanisms for employee involvement and transparency, ensuring AI adoption is smooth and beneficial for both employees and organizations, Tsipursky writes.

Organizations shouldn't rush into adopting digital tools for HR without establishing clear standards, reliable data and defined accountability, write Pham Manh Hung and Tran Thi Nhung of the Vietnam National University of Economics and Business, noting that flaws will be amplified if foundational issues aren't addressed. The educators advise setting standards, standardizing data, automating processes and then focusing on continuous improvement to ensure that digital HR systems genuinely enhance decision-making and organizational performance rather than just speeding up existing, possibly ineffective, processes.

Turnover for CHROs around the world rose to 5.2% in the first half of 2026, with 95 appointments, according to Russell Reynolds Associates. The company's report attributes the trend to high CEO turnover and the evolving role of CHROs in enterprise transformation. S&P 500 companies were more cautious in the first six months of the year, preferring experienced and external hires.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, has launched a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee investigation into McKinsey's diversity, equity and inclusion reports, alleging that the consulting firm uses unverified data that has driven potentially discriminatory workplace practices. The move reflects growing governmental scrutiny of DEI initiatives in the private sector. McKinsey stands by its findings, emphasizing the economic benefits of a diverse workforce.

Deloitte has agreed to pay $21.5 million to settle allegations from the Department of Justice that it violated the False Claims Act by discriminating against employees and applicants based on race and sex through its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The settlement, part of the DOJ's Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, resolves claims that Deloitte falsely certified compliance with anti-discrimination requirements in federal contracts. Deloitte denies the allegations and admits no liability.