Diani, Kwale County – Organizations across Africa must urgently redesign their talent pipelines to withstand the disruptive forces of artificial intelligence (AI), shifting demographics, and rising employee expectations, experts have warned.
Speaking at the opening of the HR Summit 2025 in Diani, Kwale County, Karim Anjarwalla, Senior Partner at ALN Kenya, Anjarwalla & Khanna, stressed that the world of work is undergoing profound transformation. He noted that AI is not only reshaping tasks but also redefining how people learn, hire, and lead.
“Artificial intelligence is not just changing what we do, but how we learn, how we hire, and how we lead. Unlike past innovations that amplified human productivity, AI risks removing human beings from the centre of work. This is one of the generational challenges of our time, and Africa must be proactive in responding,” Anjarwalla cautioned.
He added that Africa faces a double challenge—bridging longstanding gaps in foundational education while simultaneously racing to keep pace with the exponential acceleration of AI. He emphasized that the ultimate differentiator for organizations will be how effectively they integrate talent and innovation to remain competitive.
On his part, Sundeep Raichura, CEO of Zamara Group, pointed to the combined pressures of AI adoption, changing demographics, global trade debates, and shifting workplace values.
“A few years ago, flexible work was seen as a perk. Today it’s a baseline expectation. AI was once dismissed as hype in HR circles, but in 2025, both are reshaping talent acquisition, learning, and employee engagement,” Raichura said.
“But the future of work cannot be about technology alone—it must be about people. Whether workplaces remain human-centered or become technology-dominated depends on the choices we make as leaders. Innovation must serve humanity and not replace it.”
He further argued that HR leaders have evolved from administrative support roles to becoming strategists, culture shapers, and the conscience of organizations.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, 83% of core skills are expected to change by 2030, with AI literacy, data analysis, and technology fluency emerging as the fastest-growing competencies.
As Africa looks ahead, experts at the summit underscored that the continent’s greatest asset is its people. Ensuring the workforce is future-ready, not future-fearful, will be key to harnessing opportunities in the rapidly evolving global economy.
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