HR Conclave 5.0: Recruitment 5.0 and the Future of AI-Driven Talent Acquisition
HR Conclave 5.0 gathered industry leaders, HR strategists, and tech innovators around a clear theme: Recruitment 5.0 - AI and automation reshaping talent acquisition. Conversations focused on workforce readiness, employability, and how HR's role is changing as digital tools move from pilot to standard practice.
The day opened with registration, networking tea, and formal proceedings including Lamp Lighting, Opening Remark, Welcome Speech, and Thought Sharing. The tone was simple: build skills, use AI responsibly, and align HR with business outcomes.
Panel I - AI as a Catalyst for Skilling, Career Readiness, and Employability
Theme: Recruitment 5.0 - AI and Automation Redefining Talent Acquisition
- Moderator: Ashish Banka, Global Lead - TA & HRBP, Cradlewise
- Rajendra Lingwal, Sr VP - HR, Persistent Systems
- Mustafa Kamal Laskar, Head of Corporate HR - NE, Star Cement Ltd.
- Anjan Pathak, CTO, Vantage Circle
- Nandini Basu Paul, Director - HR Business, LTI Mindtree
- Subba Gonella, Global Divisional Manager - HR, Rakuten Symphony
Panelists highlighted how AI-driven tools speed up upskilling, tighten skill-job fit, and open new routes for employability. Think skills taxonomies, AI-led assessments, and tighter ATS-L&D integrations that make hiring and internal mobility more precise.
Practical takeaways for HR:
- Build or adopt a skills taxonomy and map it to job families, assessments, and learning paths.
- Integrate ATS with L&D to auto-recommend learning for short-listed candidates and new hires.
- Use AI sourcing for skill-based search and talent rediscovery; validate with structured assessments.
- Pilot job simulations and work samples to improve signal quality and reduce interview load.
- Set bias checks for models and assessments; document data sources and decision criteria.
Panel II - The Future Role of HR in an AI-Driven Recruitment Era
Theme: Recruitment 5.0 - AI and Automation Redefining Talent Acquisition
- Moderator: Prabhanjan Prasoon, Sr Director - TA, Birlasoft
- Priyanka Sinha, Head - Employee Relations, Compliance & Payroll, Myntra
- Manoj K Prasad, VP - Talent Transformation, Reliance Industries Ltd.
- Jagadamba B, Head - TA, Infiniti Retail Ltd. (Croma)
- Abhishek Arun, Sr VP - HR, HDFC Bank Ltd.
- Lengdon Rajkhowa, HR Manager, Marico Ltd.
Speakers pressed a clear point: HR must move from process owners to strategic operators of digital intelligence. That means governance, data quality, recruiter enablement, and measurable outcomes across cost, speed, and quality of hire.
What HR leaders can implement next:
- Create an AI use policy with Legal, IT, and Risk; define approved tools and guardrails.
- Retrain recruiters on prompts, assessments, and workflow automation; certify proficiency.
- Refresh KPIs: quality of hire, time-to-productivity, funnel conversion, candidate satisfaction.
- Audit models for bias and explainability; keep a review cadence and fallback paths.
- Be transparent with candidates about AI use; share how human oversight is applied.
Leadership Remarks
Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor, Dr. N.C. Talukdar, said: "HR Conclave 5.0 reflects our commitment to preparing the next generation for a rapidly changing world. As AI transforms industries, it is essential that academic institutions and industry leaders work together to build a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and future-ready."
Dr Rimjhim Baruah Borah, Director (i/c) - Directorate of Career Advancement at Assam down town University: "This conclave is not just a discussion forum, it is a bridge between learning and employability. The insights shared today will empower students, professionals, and organizations to embrace technological advancements and drive meaningful transformation in the HR space."
HR Awards, Felicitation, and Closing
Judges and panel experts were felicitated before the HR Award Ceremony recognized standout contributions across the function. The conclave wrapped with a Vote of Thanks and a Networking Lunch that helped participants connect with peers and deepen conversations started on stage.
What Recruitment 5.0 means for HR right now
- Run a 90-day pilot: AI sourcing + skill-based screening + structured interviews.
- Adopt work-sample tests for top roles; compare to resume-first screening results.
- Set a data backbone: clean job architectures, skills data, and consistent feedback loops.
- Upskill recruiters and hiring managers on AI literacy, assessment design, and prompt quality.
- Create a candidate experience flow with smart assistants, clear status updates, and human check-ins.
About HR Conclave 5.0
HR Conclave 5.0 is built to drive dialogue on emerging trends, workforce development, and digital transformation in HR. It brings together leaders across sectors to share practices that advance recruitment and talent management.
Helpful resources
- EEOC guidance on AI and algorithmic fairness in employment
- AI upskilling paths by job function (including HR)
Your membership also unlocks:
