From Experimentation to Infrastructure: How AI is Redefining Executive Search
January 22, 2026 – What was once considered “experimental” technology (AI-powered sourcing, workflow automation, and predictive analytics) has quickly become foundational, according to a recent Cluen survey. It found that a majority of firms are not only adopting these tools but reshaping entire business models around them. Yet with maturity comes new challenges.
How do you balance speed with accuracy? Where do you draw the line between automation and human insight? Which tools are creating measurable ROI, and which are distractions? Cluen’s white paper goes beyond adoption trends to uncover how forward-thinking firms are leveraging technology to drive client trust, candidate experience, and long-term business growth. By comparing your practices with your peers, you’ll gain a sharper view of what’s working, what’s fading, and what’s next.
We all know that ChatGPT adoption has surged the last couple years. This year, it’s not just about trying AI but about integrating it into every stage of the search process. Cluen’s survey data confirms the leap in generative AI usage. It found that 73.5 percent of executive search firms reported using ChatGPT, with Microsoft Copilot (45 percent) and Google Gemini (12 percent) also gaining traction. Remarkably, only nine percent of firms said they use none of the major Large Language Models, which is down from 22 percent last year. “This signals a critical shift in mindset that AI is no longer a novelty,” the Cluen report said. “It’s becoming foundational infrastructure for executive search professionals to reach maximum potential.”
Cluen’s customers are using built-in OpenAI features in its industry-leading platform, Encore, to eliminate redundant admin work, enrich candidate insights, and even power client-facing reporting. They also extend their Cluen Encore system to their own AI tools and integrate through Cluen’s partnerships with the leading providers of executive search specific AI offerings.
Firms reported the top AI use cases as: Candidate write-ups (73 percent); employer role description writing (69 percent); business development research (55 percent); progress reporting & interview prep (34 percent +). The trend is clear: firms are moving beyond “experimenting” with AI toward integrated daily use across the search lifecycle.
Related: AI and HR: Partners in Building Smarter, More Human Workplaces
Compared to last year, fewer firms reported “data entry” as a major pain point, suggesting automation is already relieving some of the most repetitive tasks, according to the Cluen report. However, it stressed that the challenge has shifted to higher-order processes like research and reporting, areas where smarter AI and workflow tools are now being applied.
New Features
As the pioneer in executive search technology, Cluen is providing features that empower you to build your own best practices for incorporating AI into Encore, or your recruiting process. Stay at the forefront of AI technology in recruiting, with some of Encore’s AI features evolving in each update. This is all done using a secure implementations of OpenAI’s GPT systems. When using this feature through Encore, Open AI doesn’t store the info and won’t be used in their further training, whereas if you were to use public ChatGPT directly, your inputs would be used in future iterations of the AI.
AI Won’t Replace Retained Search; It Will Reveal Who’s Doing It Well
In executive search, the real AI question is no longer if it belongs in the process, but how it can sharpen human judgment instead of diluting it. “Everyone is piloting AI somewhere in the talent stack,” said Mike Caggiano, co-founder and CEO of ExactSearch.AI. He explained that the executive tier is where the question shifts from “Can AI run a search?” to “Where does it create real advantage without eroding judgment, trust or brand?”
“Firms and talent leaders who answer that honestly will move faster and hire better than those chasing full automation,” Mr. Caggiano said. “AI is a power assist. It narrows options and speeds the work around the decision. But at the senior level, the decision still turns on context, persuasion and trust.”
In addition, another new features it Cluen’s Workflows, which allows you to eliminate repetitive tasks by automating your workflows. One complete task triggers the next task, working for you behind the scenes.
Cluen’s Encore centralizes communication so every client and candidate interaction is automatically captured and organized in one place. This gives executive search professionals instant visibility into relationships and ensures data is always accessible, searchable, and actionable, without extra eort.
New Integrations
Encore continues to evolve as the central hub of executive search technology. Cluen’s LinkedIn Plug-in powered by NIXZ remains popular, allowing you to capture and update candidate data directly from LinkedIn without breaking focus or juggling multiple tabs.
This year, Cluen is expanding that power with new AI-driven integrations designed to reduce manual work and sharpen your competitive edge. With SourceWhale, you can automate outreach campaigns that sync directly into Encore, combining AI-driven engagement with Cluen’s relationship intelligence to strengthen connections and move seamlessly from outreach to signed engagement.
Cluen also partnered with Quil and Noon.ai to bring automation and intelligence deeper into the search lifecycle. Quil’s AI-powered note-taking automatically captures and drafts call notes directly into Encore, eliminating administrative burdens and keeping documentation complete and searchable.
Noon.ai takes sourcing to the next level with fully autonomous candidate discovery, screening, and ranking, learning your preferences and delivering results up to 20× faster than manual methods. Together, these integrations transform Encore into a strategic command center that helps your firm complete searches faster, engage top talent more effectively, and deliver lasting client impact.
Using AI Effectively
Are you using the latest AI safely and effectively? With great power comes new caution. Cluen found that 73 percent of firms still report ethical or practical concerns, especially around: Data privacy; bias in output; and overreliance on generative summaries “This underscores the need for responsible integration: tools must augment, not replace, human judgment,” the Cluen report said.
Related: AI and the Workforce: Navigating the Balance Between Productivity and Uncertainty
Many search firms have made it their policy to always double-check AI-generated summaries before client delivery. Still, with 55 percent of firms investing in AI training and 40 percent having formal policies in place, the professionalization of AI is well underway.
Business Development
To win new business, having key data at your fingertips is crucial, according to the Cluen report. More firms are recognizing this, with 70 percent of survey respondents now managing their business development directly in their executive search database, a sharp increase from prior years. This marks a meaningful shift away from manual tools like Excel (13 percent) and general CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce (under six percent combined). By centralizing BD alongside search activity, firms are ensuring stronger data integrity, clearer reporting, and more actionable insights.
AEncore’s Business Development Insights panel continues to evolve, helping firms track opportunities, connect the dots with existing relationships, and manage pipelines seamlessly within its core search management system. “The takeaway is clear, integrating business development into your executive search platform doesn’t just save time, it drives smarter decisions, higher conversion rates, and long-term growth,” the Cluen report said.
Conclusion
As Cluen’s survey results show, executive search firms are making real progress in adopting technology to centralize data, streamline business development, and harness the power of AI. With more firms managing business development directly in their search platforms, and new integrations eliminating manual work, the industry is shifting toward smarter, more efficient ways of working.
“The message is clear, firms that embrace these tools are not just keeping pace, they’re setting the pace,” the Cluen report said. “By leveraging technology to reduce administrative burden and sharpen client and candidate engagement, you position your team to deliver faster, deeper, and more impactful results. In a market where speed and insight define success, those who invest in innovation today will lead the search industry of tomorrow.”
For a closer look into Cluen’s services, click here!
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
