Gartner defines AI agents in the HR technology submarket as autonomous or semiautonomous software entities that leverage AI techniques to perceive, make decisions and take actions within HR environments. These agents enable HR organizations to automate and execute multistep HR tasks (such as information retrieval, workflow initiation and communicating with end users) to achieve HR goals. AI agents in HR can function independently of core HR systems or be integrated into broader HR platforms, such as human capital management suites, which are essential components of the HR technology stack.
Gartner defines AI applications in IT service management as tools that augment and enhance IT service management (ITSM) workflows using AI. These analyze ITSM data and metadata (primarily found in ITSM platforms) to provide intelligent advice and actions on ITSM practices and workflows, such as IT service desk and support activities. This software can either be a stand-alone product, features extending an ITSM platform or an add-on to an ITSM platform. AI features enable I&O teams to optimize IT support and service management processes (such as incident and problem management) through insight and automation. This can lead to tangible reduction in costs, such as labor savings by handling support issues and requests automatically, faster resolutions, and improved accuracy in triage, categorization and expert identification. In addition to addressing overheads, AI solutions can improve the employee-facing user experience and enhance IT’s relationship with the business consumer. Some features, such as intelligent risk advisory, can help I&O leaders reduce disruptions and provide reliable IT services.
Gartner defines conversational AI platforms (CAIPs) as platforms primarily used for developing applications simulating human conversation across multiple channels and on a mix of modalities such as text, voice and visual content. CAIPs leverage a composition of AI techniques, including classic natural language processing (NLP), and generative AI (GenAI) and agentic AI architectures. To support the building of conversational applications, CAIPs principally provide low-code and no-code coding options. Application areas include AI assistants and conversational AI agents. Conversational AI platforms are designed to address the increasing demand for organizations to efficiently build, deploy and manage AI-driven conversational systems at scale, addressing the requirements of both employee experience and customer experience use cases. While they may offer some predefined AI assistants or AI agents that can be modified, the primary focus of a CAIP is to equip organizations with tools for building customized conversational AI applications. CAIPs typically embed specialized, dedicated and feature-rich tooling for language-specific NLP and multimodal interactions, as well as conversational flow building and analytics. By offering a unified environment that supports low-code and no-code development — and, in some cases, extends to pro-code and GenAI-assisted options — CAIPs empower technically savvy business users, including citizen developers, to create and orchestrate both customer-facing and internal AI assistants and conversational agents. Unlike AI engineering environments, which primarily serve AI engineers, software developers and data scientists, CAIPs are purpose-built for broad enterprise adoption, enabling strategic, scalable and organizationwide conversational AI initiatives.
Gartner defines integrated HR service management (IHRSM) as solutions that provide organizations with a holistic platform for managing HR shared services operations and employee experience. Core functionality includes HR case management (ticketing or routing), a knowledge base, content delivery via channels such as a portal and virtual assistant, service-level agreement (SLA) monitoring and single sign-on into HR administrative applications.