Automation to Sustainability: A Systematic Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Human Resource Management

Purpose In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in the extent of research that employs artificial intelligence (AI) in human resource management (HRM). AI is a critical gap in HRM, as it lacks a comprehensive analysis that aligns its capabilities with sustainability objectives. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by systematically reviewing the relationship between sustainable HRM and AI. Design/Methodology/Approach This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology, and a thematic analysis approach was used to identify five key themes to analyze existing literature. These themes include AI‐driven environmental sustainability in HRM, AI‐enabled social sustainability and employee well‐being, ethical implications and governance of AI in HRM, AI and sustainability pillars in HRM, and theories and methodologies used in AI‐driven HRM. Based on selection criteria, 25 articles out of 312 were selected from top‐tier journals of the Scopus database published during the years 2015–2025. Findings The article′s findings suggest that AI‐enabled programs can be integrated with sustainable HRM to foster human‐centric elements. This includes enhancing decision‐making, promoting an ethical workplace environment, supporting employee well‐being, and designing an environmentally friendly HRM framework. Such a framework should be aligned with the organization′s overall sustainability goals. Implications The findings have implications for scholars in the fields of AI and HRM, as well as the role of AI in supporting or hindering sustainable approaches in HRM.