In this episode of the BundyPlus Podcast, Steve and Levon unpack the real state of AI in payroll — far beyond the hype, fear, and buzzwords. Using insights from the Australian Payroll Association’s report, they break down adoption trends, concerns, and what payroll professionals should expect next.


🔍 What we cover:
-Why 49% of organisations report zero AI adoption in payroll — and why that’s not surprising
-The small percentage actually using AI meaningfully today
-The big gap between what payroll professionals want vs. what software vendors currently deliver
-The risks and hesitation around AI, from data privacy to accuracy concerns
-Why AI still requires strong human oversight (yes, even if HAL wants to run payroll on its own)
-Where AI could actually shine: award checking, pattern detection, large-scale data validation
-Why “AI will take payroll jobs” isn’t the full story — augmentation is more likely
-What vendors need to do next to build trust and drive adoption
-How biometric tools, facial recognition, and data structures already set the foundation for future AI

💬 Key Themes:
• Skills gaps in the industry
• Leadership buy-in
• Change management
• Compliance-first development
• Transparency in AI tools
• Why accurate time-and-attendance data is the backbone of any future payroll AI

🎬 Fun Aside:
Steve imagines a future where HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey refuses to stop payroll processing — and what that says about trust in automation.


📈 Why this matters:
AI is entering payroll, slowly but surely. The winners will be the organisations (and vendors) who invest in skills, data, and practical use cases — not just flashy tech.

➡️ Subscribe for more conversations on payroll, time & attendance, workforce tech, and the future of work.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction: AI in Payroll
00:29 Sci-Fi and AI: A Fun Analogy
01:13 Welcome Back: Bunny Plus Podcast
01:20 AI Adoption in Payroll: Current Trends
03:29 Challenges in AI Adoption
04:09 The Role of AI in Payroll Jobs
06:23 Real-World AI Applications in Payroll
08:03 Security Concerns with AI
10:24 Future of AI in Payroll
13:57 Recommendations for AI Adoption
17:02 Conclusion: The Exciting Future of Payroll