How AI Coworkers Like ACE Are Changing HR Consulting

Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash

Ever heard of an AI coworker?  

I grew up thinking the future of work would look like The Jetsons — flying cars, robot housekeepers, and dinner at the push of a big red button. But the reality looks a little different. Instead of folding laundry or cooking dinner, our digital coworkers are helping us reclaim something far more valuable: time. 

And having more of this precious commodity leaves us more space to concentrate on the “human” side of our HR consulting work.  

We’re always looking for smarter ways to support our teams and clients, and lately, that’s meant welcoming a new kind of teammate: ACE, our AI coworker. ACE helps HR consultants handle the repetitive stuff so we can focus on the meaningful, people-centered work. We get to use our client retainer hours more efficiently, with less administrative noise and more impact.

Thoughtful AI = Smarter HR

ACE helps our HR consultants handle the repetitive, administrative work that keeps things running behind the scenes. It organizes notes, drafts emails, summarizes meetings, and keeps projects on track — so our consultants can focus on the meaningful, people-centered work that makes an impact.

When used thoughtfully, AI coworkers can streamline tasks and sharpen decision-making. But let’s be clear: cultural fit, empathy, and fairness still need human judgment. That’s where HR shines. With the right tools, recruiting becomes faster, smarter, and more intentional.

Learn more about ACE at OneDigital here.

How HR Consultants Use AI Coworkers

When we kick off a recruiting project, we record intake meetings and make sure every detail gets baked into the job posting and search criteria with the help of our AI coworker scanning for reference. It’s all about getting it right from the start.

According to SHRM:

• 51% of organizations use AI coworkers to streamline recruiting

• 66% use them to write job descriptions

• 44% use them to screen resumes

• 32% automate candidate searches

• 31% customize job postings

• 29% communicate with applicants

Nearly 9 in 10 HR pros say AI coworkers improve efficiency. 36% report cost savings, and 24% say they help spot top talent more effectively.

Real-Life Wins With ACE

We’ve seen it in action. Meagan Senkowski, Manager of HR Consulting at OneDigital, uses ACE all the time to create job postings, job descriptions, and emails. 

And in one unforgettable moment, Valonna Fowler, OneDigital HR Consultant, used an AI coworker to draft a staff communication about... toilet practices. With a few parameters and a humorous twist, she turned a messy situation into a message that landed just right!

At a recent OneDigital conference, ACE and other AI coworkers “attended” every breakout session, transcribing and summarizing each one. If you missed a session or want to know if Cincinnati was mentioned, just ask ACE — it’ll find every reference in seconds. It’s like having your own personal conference assistant.

HR Consultant Randy Trombly had our HR coworker by asking it to convert a job posting into into a podcast. The soundbite of people talking about the role and the company really brought the job posting to light. The client loved it and shared it broadly, which allowed it to capture the attention of job seekers in a new and innovative way. 

Supporting the Employee Journey

Here’s how ACE and other smart AI coworkers show up across the employee lifecycle:

• Hiring Smarter: Scanning resumes, matching skills, and scheduling interviews — reducing bias while keeping the human touch.

• Onboarding & Offboarding: Automating paperwork, answering FAQs, and making transitions smoother.

• Performance & Development: Surfacing trends, flagging coaching opportunities, and personalizing training plans.

• Employee Experience: Analyzing feedback, spotting patterns, and offering quick answers about policies or benefits.

• Strategic Planning: Forecasting turnover, identifying top performers, and helping plan workforce needs.

AI coworkers help us spend less time chasing tasks and more time building culture, solving problems, and showing up for our people.

OneDigital’s Broader AI Strategy

OneDigital is leading the way in reimagining how consulting firms use artificial intelligence. These digital teammates help us deliver more personalized, data-driven insights — faster and more effectively than ever.

Our custom AI coworkers, powered by Microsoft Azure have boosted our productivity and let our consultants focus more on strategic advisory work instead of time-consuming admin. The impact? Smarter client insights, stronger relationships, and better retention. Microsoft even featured OneDigital in this case study – check it out if you're interested in how the Azure platform can help co-develop AI-powered coworkers.

At OneDigital, we believe AI coworkers should empower people — not replace them. Our partnership with Microsoft Azure has helped us transform how we work, giving our team the tools to deliver more value in less time while keeping things human-first.

What makes OneDigital’s AI strategy stand out? A focus on: 

• AI That Fits the Culture: We treat AI coworkers like colleagues, not tools. That mindset makes adoption easy and meaningful.

• Proven Results, Measurable Efficiency: We’ve saved over 1,000 person-hours annually since launching our AI coworkers. That means faster insights and better client meetings.

• Scalability Across Functions: Our early success is opening doors. We’re expanding AI into proposal writing, market research, and internal support.

AI Best Practices & Ethical Considerations

Using AI coworkers well means using them responsibly. Here are a few things we always keep in mind:

• Bias in hiring: AI can reflect past mistakes. We run regular audits and use diverse data inputs.

• Transparency builds trust: People need to understand how AI coworkers make decisions. Clear communication and human oversight are key.

• Privacy matters: We protect sensitive employee data, secure consent, and limit access.

And before you hit send on that email, be sure to check for accuracy, relevance, bias, and any possible legal or ethical issues that could come up.  

The Future Is Human (and a Little Bit Digital)

AI coworkers are changing HR — not by replacing us, but by refining our workflows and helping us focus on what we do best: building relationships, engaging candidates, and thinking strategically.

As AI coworkers become more embedded in our work, we’ll need to grow new muscles — interpreting insights, navigating ethical decisions, and turning data into human-centered action.

OneDigital’s journey with Microsoft Azure shows that when done right, AI coworkers can help create a more strategic, people-first workplace. And we’re just getting started.

Whether you're looking for clarity around compliance, recruiting, employee support, or other burning issues, we’re here to help. Contact us for practical, people-first support at every stage.