Inside the AI frenzy: Takeaways from my first HR Tech

This was my first time attending HR Tech, and it felt unlike any other conference I’ve experienced. I’ve been to Transform, RecFest, and other niche events in the talent space, but walking onto that massive expo floor in Las Vegas felt like stepping into the “big leagues” of HR tech. Every aisle was filled with just about every HR tech tool imaginable.

And unsurprisingly, AI was everywhere.

90% of vendors had AI, but not all AI is created equal

Walking the floor, it struck me that nearly every booth claimed some AI advantage. But as I dug into conversations, I kept coming back to a core question: Is this tool just speeding up tasks, or is it actually driving better decisions?

That distinction matters. HR has been stuck with generic AI that can automate surface-level work but misses the deeper signals of what makes someone successful. The real opportunity lies in cutting through the noise and guiding organizations toward real transformation.

At Findem, that means AI and automation that don’t just process resumes, but actually help recruiters understand people, organizational make-up, and the measures of success that drive real business outcomes.

And at HR Tech, I saw firsthand how hard it’s becoming for talent leaders to separate the signal from the noise.

From recruiter to community builder to marketer

I’ll admit, I came to Vegas with some worry. Having moved from TA leader → TA community co-founder → marketing, I worried that I’d lost some of my practitioner lens and street cred.

But HR Tech reminded me that those roots are still very much alive. Catching up with friends like Brandon Jeffs (Building the Talent Machine), Mike Peditto (The Realistic Recruiter), and Brandice Payne (Kyle & Co) reinforced that we’re all navigating the same challenges.

Findem’s VP of Talent Consulting & Transformation, David Malloy (formerly Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Nutanix), and I joined The Revol.TA podcast to share our perspectives on how AI is reshaping talent acquisition.

David shared his perspective on the evolution of responsible AI in recruiting — and how Findem is helping define what that future looks like. In my session, I spoke about the challenges talent leaders face today as AI tools flood the market. With so many vendors, features, and promises, buying decisions can feel overwhelming, even confusing. How do you know if you’re choosing the right AI partner?

Together, these conversations reflected a bigger theme from my HR Tech experience: AI is everywhere, but making sense of it — and applying it responsibly — is where the real work begins.

Partners, dinners, and the conversations that matter

One of the highlights of the week was how much community Findem was able to create in and around the event, including:

• Happy hours with partners like RecruitMilitary, Greenhouse, The Josh Bersin Company, and Hirebrain.
• An intimate dinner at Carbone with TA leaders from Airbnb, Cox, and Lennar.
• More than 150 booth conversations with practitioners from companies like PepsiCo, Wells Fargo, PitchBook, AMS, ServiceNow, Microsoft, and State Farm.

Each touchpoint reinforced a bigger theme: talent leaders aren’t just looking for tools — they’re looking for trusted partners to help them navigate an AI-first future.

Why HR Tech left me grounded

In short, HR Tech was overwhelming in scope, buzzing with AI, and yet deeply grounding. It reminded me that while the pace of change is dizzying, the foundation of this industry will always be people and community.

For me, the biggest takeaway is this: the next chapter of HR tech won’t be won by who shouts “AI” the loudest, but by those who deliver outcomes talent teams can trust.

And that’s exactly what Findem is building with our partners: AI that transforms recruiting from execution to strategy, helping TA leaders cut through the noise and move their organizations forward.