A new study from Zip, conducted in partnership with Prolific, reveals that artificial intelligence is now a factor in hiring decisions for 75% of organizations, with nearly one in five companies now requiring their managers prove why they must hire a new employee and not use AI instead.
“For the first time in history, companies are looking at everything through the lens of AI,” says Nick Heinzmann, head of research at Zip. “When they do hire people, companies are prioritizing AI fluency above all other skills, while cutting consultants and analysts across the board.” Heinzmann added: “AI’s impact on the workforce is no longer a hypothetical, it’s here.”
Key takeaways:
· 70% of organizations are already testing or using AI in business operations – adoption rates that challenge assumptions about how slowly enterprises adopt new technology – though only 17% reported deploying it widely across multiple processes.
· At the top of their list, companies are cutting professional services such as consulting and legal advice, which represent 40% of reductions, along with temporary workers and contractors at 33% and travel and events at 34%. At the same time, technology spending is rising, with 37% planning to add new vendors, particularly AI tools. This shows companies aren’t simply slashing costs across the board, but deliberately shifting resources from people-dependent services to technology.
- 75% of companies now factor AI into hiring decisions, with 17% requiring proof that AI cannot perform the role before approving new positions
- AI fluency has become the top skill priority for 56% of executives over the next three years, displacing traditional business expertise
- IT departments are expecting to expand while other functions shrink, with 60% of business cases modeling flat or reduced headcount due to AI.
- Technology spending is increasing despite people cuts, with 37% planning to add new vendors, particularly AI tools
- Company size determines AI strategy, with 80% expecting AI to reshape tech stacks but smaller companies planning overhauls while larger enterprises expect existing vendors to add AI features
- Confidence outpaces readiness, with 83% expressing optimism about AI deployment while most admit being only “somewhat prepared”
- Procurement’s value to business leaders is increasing, with eight in 10 respondents expecting procurement’s overall influence will increase over the next 5 years. The Top 3 qualities people reported looking for in their procurement process is that it is user-friendly, connected across functions, and automated by AI.
- AI fluency topped the list as the most valued skill in new hires, with 56% of those surveyed saying it topped all other skills, followed by data analysis at 43%. However, when ranking their second and third skill priorities, each business function emphasized distinctly human capabilities. For example, finance chose risk anticipation, procurement selected supplier relationships, and legal emphasized change management.
