AI at work - navigating opportunities and legal risks in the employment lifecycle

From recruitment through to performance management and exiting employees, AI tools are being adopted by employers for use at all stages of the employment lifecycle. Whilst this heralds opportunity, it also creates potential pitfalls. In this article, we highlight key legal considerations for the use of AI in the employment journey, from both an employment law and data protection perspective. We address upcoming changes to the regulation of AI, including rules on automated decision-making ("ADM") introduced by the UK’s Data (Use and Access Act) 2025 ("DUAA"), which became law on 19 June 2025, and offer practical tips for employers in navigating this evolving landscape.