Over the next three weeks Barry Phillips will be reviewing the importance of ChatGPT5 for HR

Transcript:

Hello Humans! 

My name is Barry Phillips and welcome to the weekly podcast that aims to summarise in five minutes or less an important AI development for HR. And this week its really important. It is of course all about the upgrade of ChatGPT from 4 or if you prefer 4.5 to 5.

But first lets go back a bit in fact a lot at least in terms of the AI calendar.

When I was a kid in primary and secondary school… homework that needed research was tricky.

If my super-smart uncle happened to be visiting, he was my first stop. He never escaped lightly — I’d fire question after question at him until I had enough to fill my exercise book.

But if he wasn’t around, there was only one option left: I’d head down the road… and knock on the door of the Kent family.

Now, the Kents were the “posh” family in our estate. Every estate seemed to have one in those days.  Posh enough to own a brand-new Ford Cortina estate… and, more importantly… their very own set of Britannica Encyclopaedias.

Those books were my internet before the internet.

And honestly, the Kents probably weren’t as good as my dad at shooing away the Britannica salesmen who used to knock on doors from time to time — but lucky for me, that meant I had somewhere to go when school projects came calling.

Fast-forward to today — and especially this month — and the contrast couldn’t be starker.

With the launch of ChatGPT-5, if Sam Altman is right, my daughter — who starts grammar school later this month — will have PhD-level expertise at her fingertips. On any subject. At any time.

And it’s not just for her — this kind of access is here for all of us.

Which brings me to HR.

What does it mean when we suddenly have instant, free access to this kind of expertise?

I think most of us are still figuring it out.

But here’s where my mind goes first…Here are five ways ChatGPT5 Can Improve HR — Starting Now

1. Writing job descriptions that actually work

No more copy-pasting from old adverts. ChatGPT5 can take your bullet-point requirements… and turn them into engaging, inclusive job postings in minutes — tailored to your tone of voice and audience.

2. Digital coaching

The voice function on ChatGPT5 is now so much better and it comes in multiple languages. Sure ChatGPT5 wont be responsible in itself for rolling out access to digital coaching to all but in making ChatGPT5 available free to everyone it’s playing a huge part in democratising workplace use of a digital thought assistant.

3. Drafting performance feedback

It can help managers write constructive, specific feedback that’s clear and actionable — especially for those who struggle to find the right words. The voice function can help managers role play first too. 

4. Analysing employee survey results

Feed in the data… and ChatGPT can summarise themes, spot trends, and suggest action points — turning weeks of analysis into hours. The usual rules of data security still apply of course. Turn off the training function and don’t enter personally identifiable information.

5. Supporting training and onboarding

From creating customised onboarding guides… to role-play scenarios for customer service training… ChatGPT can scale learning without losing the personal touch.

When I think back to standing on the Kents’ doorstep… clutching a schoolbook and hoping they were home… I can’t help but smile.

The knowledge I needed back then lived on a bookshelf, guarded by a Ford Cortina in the driveway.

Today, that same knowledge — and far more — lives in my pocket.

For HR, ChatGPT isn’t just a shiny new tool. It’s a shift — in how we work, how we make decisions, and how we connect with people.

The challenge isn’t finding the information anymore…

It’s knowing how to use it well.

Ethically.

Humanely.

If we get that part right… we’re not just making HR more efficient.

We’re making work better.

For everyone.

Until next week bye for now.