Generative AI ranks as one of the biggest trends affecting the staffing industry in 2024, and research by SIA found that experts, on average, forecast 39% of recruiting activities will be replaced in AI within the next three years. Generative AI is also a topic at the upcoming Executive Forum North America.

SIA “concluded that AI will improve the experience across candidates, internal staff and clients, while the potential will increase for ‘fractionalized work,’ which blurs the line between permanent and temporary work. Both, in combination, could lead to significant long-term growth and opportunity for the industry,” according to the Staffing Trends 2024 report.

Separately, a recent SIA Pulse survey found that staffing firms see AI benefitting their operations. Ways AI could benefit include using it to write emails, write job descriptions and automate other tasks.

Of course, there are concerns as well. More than a quarter of US workers, 26%, said they were concerned about the use of AI when it comes to making decisions about hiring and promotions, and 45% were “somewhat” concerned, according to a survey by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

AI is impacting all industries. For example, recent announcements said Apple Inc. dropped plans to develop an electric car in favor of investing in generative AI.

A panel called “AI and More: The Hype and the Hope of New Technology” will take place March 26 at SIA’s Executive Forum North America in Las Vegas. It will be led by John Nurthen, SIA’s executive director of global research. It will cover AI as well as other technologies such as blockchain, the metaverse, the Internet of Things and 6G.

“Staffing firms are challenged more than ever by the latest technology developments,” Nurthen said. “New tech, new tools and improvements to established tools have left staffing executives trying to make sense of a confusing and fast-evolving ecosystem. Through our latest research and events, SIA is stepping up to elevate industry knowledge on these vital issues. While this is a time of great opportunity, it is not without risk.”

In addition, SIA is planning a Staffing Tech Summit immediately preceding the conference on March 25. This pop-up event will take a deep dive into technology related topics from tech stacks to cybersecurity to AI.