In this episode, George LaRocque unpacks new data from the 2025 Global WorkTech Report, revealing why investment capital continues to rise even as deal volume declines. He explains the “squeezed middle” dynamic affecting growth‑stage vendors, the surge in early‑stage AI innovation, and the strategic bets shaping the market. George also breaks down the hype and hidden risks of vibe coding and warns HR leaders about the escalating legal exposure tied to AI explainability and transparency.

In this episode we look at workforce intelligence, agentic AI, HR technology, WorkTech investment trends, CHRO strategy, AI governance, future of work.

Key Takeaways

Global WorkTech investment rose to $6.24B in 2025, even as deal volume fell 16%, signaling a shift toward high‑conviction, AI‑forward bets.

Early‑stage innovation is surging, with 136 pre‑seed, seed, and Series A deals capturing $1.1B in capital.

The “squeezed middle” is real, as growth‑stage vendors struggle to raise amid investor discipline and platform consolidation.

Agentic AI and workforce intelligence are top acquisition targets, replacing standalone tools with infrastructure‑level capabilities.

Vibe coding creates false confidence, delivering prototypes but failing to meet enterprise‑grade HR tech requirements at scale.

AI explainability is now a legal tail risk, with black‑box systems threatening vendor valuations, enterprise adoption, and regulatory compliance.

Get the report and "Vibe Coding vs the CHRO" at 1worktech.com

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Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the HR Tech Risk No One Sees Coming

Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the HR Tech Risk No One Sees Coming

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