The Growing Role of Artificial Intelligence in Talent Development and Talent Management

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key technology in modern organizations, changing how organizations manage, develop, and retain employees. In talent management, AI supports activities and decisions that traditionally relied on human judgment. This study aims to examine the role of artificial intelligence in talent development and related talent management functions, as well as the growing body of research in this area. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using 118 documents indexed in Scopus and published between 2018 and July 2026. The findings show growing research interest, particularly since 2023. Additionally, the analysis closely examined the most-cited empirical studies to identify AI applications in talent development and talent management functions, and found them in learning and skills development, talent acquisition and selection, talent retention, attrition prediction, and employee performance and engagement. These applications show that AI can support organizations by improving decision-making, providing useful information, and enabling better ways to manage and develop employees. However, the findings also show that human involvement remains important in talent-related decisions. Therefore, AI should serve as a tool that supports human judgment and expertise rather than replacing human involvement entirely. Organizations should also consider potential bias and ethical considerations when integrating AI into talent-related decisions. For this reason, organizations should balance AI use with continued human involvement in talent management.