The workplace is changing fast – new skills, new tech, new expectations. Turnover is up, expectations are changing, and AI is transforming roles faster than teams can adapt. HR leaders need fresh strategies to keep employees engaged, connected, and thriving.
Few understand the AI landscape in HR like Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer of Lighthouse Research & Advisory, bestselling author, and seasoned SPARK speaker. HR Daily Advisor had the chance to sit down with Ben to ask our most burning questions about what 2026 holds for AI and HR and get a sneak peek into what he’ll be discussing during SPARK HR 2026 in just a few months.
Here are the biggest takeaways from our conversation, and everything you need to know before attending HR’s most hands-on conference.
By the Book
We got to briefly chat with Eubanks about his new book, Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Build a Successful Workforce, and what takeaways we would need to know before reading. Somewhat surprising, the first thing he said was “AI isn’t the answer to every problem.” The book stands out as a guide for HR professionals on where specifically AI can help, the key word being “specific.”
His book dives into the conversation on what AI can and can’t do, and what humans can and can’t do, and where HR can find the most productivity out of having those conversations. But above all, his work stresses that AI is a tool, and in this new digital age, the human element has arguably never been more important. “The skills that matter most are the ones AI can’t replicate,” Eubanks says. “This book is about making work more human, using technology as a lever for that.”
AI vs. Employees vs. Leaders
When we asked about employees’ and leaders’ current relationship with AI, Eubanks, as any good researcher would do, jumped immediately into the data. “70% of workers are concerned AI is or will disrupt their skills. Imagine just ten of your workers, and seven are worrying about the future of their career.”
The fear is real, Eubanks stresses, but the good news is that the solution lies in leadership. Those same concerned employees are looking to HR leaders to help build those skills and map the future of their career, and now is the best time HR professionals have to help. “The problem is there, but so is the opportunity for us to help enable our employees over time.”
SPARK HR Sneak Peeks
With AI having been around for a while now, Eubanks is ready to jump into the specifics when it comes to how HR can push AI. With the conversation so often being about AI doing everything, or AI doing nothing, Eubanks wants to break down what humans can’t do, and where AI can take on new roles instead of just automating old ones.
“I’ll be going over some tools I’ve built and tested over the past few months that will allow [HR professionals] to meet the needs of more people,” at SPARK HR. But as Eubanks and other HR professionals know, there is never an abundance of time, and he hopes his SPARK presentation will finally tip the needle in favor of HR’s direction, and allow for more time and more human interactions.
If this article got you thinking, just wait until SPARK HR 2026 at St. Pete Beach, FL, April 28-30. From calming AI job-loss fears to spotting flight risks before they walk out the door, you’ll gain practical retention strategies that actually work and actionable solutions for burnout and more. Join the world’s top HR leaders from Disney, Chick-fil-A, LinkedIn, and more. It’s not just another conference—it’s hands-on, interactive, and a chance to connect with people who really get it. Plus, who doesn’t like a good beach trip? Click here to register today!