Up Next @ WorkTech! AI on Trial, Labor Power, and HR Tech’s Reckoning

Up Next @ WorkTech! AI on Trial, Labor Power, and HR Tech’s Reckoning

From Up Next @ Work by WRKdefined

January 27, 2026 · 35 min

About this episode

Katie Achille and George LaRocque discuss significant developments in HR tech, including a lawsuit against Eightfold and labor agreements involving Microsoft.

2026 kicks off with a jolt as Katie Achille and George LaRocque unpack a wave of developments reshaping HR tech. They dive into the new class action lawsuit against Eightfold, exploring what it signals to the market, around AI transparency, vendor accountability, and compliance. The conversation widens to worker power, including Microsoft's landmark agreement with Australian labor unions, and the heated rhetoric coming out of Davos about AI's impact on jobs. Katie and George also consider Apple and Google's latest partnership and the first acquisitions of the year.

People in this episode

Hosts: Katie Achille, George LaRocque

Topics covered

  • HR tech developments
  • AI transparency
  • labor power
  • vendor accountability
  • compliance
  • partnerships
  • acquisitions

Keywords

  • HR technology
  • AI
  • class action lawsuit
  • worker power
  • Microsoft
  • Apple
  • Google
  • acquisitions
  • Davos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eightfold, Microsoft, Australian labor unions, Apple, Google

Places: Davos

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