Exploring venture capital paradoxes, Workday’s agent ambitions, payroll automation risks, workplace safety, and HR’s evolving role in the future of work. George and Kate dissect the paradox of HR Tech funding, Workday’s PipeDream acquisition, payroll automation failures, workplace safety concerns, and The Economist’s claim that HR has “taken over the world.” This episode blends market intelligence, AI agent trends, and human resources strategy for the future of work. In this episode we look at HR Tech, Work Tech, AI agents, Human Resources strategy, Future of Work, payroll automation, and venture capital trends. These high-volume keywords frame the conversation around funding paradoxes, workplace safety, and the evolving role of HR leaders in technology-driven organizations. Key Takeaways HR Tech funding paradox: Despite $4.9B invested in 2025, early-stage founders face unprecedented challenges in raising capital. AI agents in Work Tech: Workday’s PipeDream acquisition positions it as a leading enterprise AI agent platform for HR and finance. Payroll automation risks: AI-driven payroll failures highlight the need for human oversight and off-cycle payment safeguards. Workplace safety in HR Tech: The Amber Check tragedy underscores the importance of escalation processes, psychological safety, and frontline worker protection. HR’s evolving role: The Economist’s claim that HR has “taken over the world” sparks debate on strategy, DEI, and AI disruption. Future of Work trends: Integration platforms, AI-enabled SaaS, and HR acuity tools redefine how organizations manage people, culture, and compliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices