In a world where HR leaders are under pressure to do more with less—and do it responsibly—One Model has carved out a place at the forefront of ethical, people-first artificial intelligence. The People Analytics platform was just named “Ethical AI Solution of the Year” at the 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards, beating out thousands of global contenders for its commitment to clarity and accountability in AI.
Key Takeaway:
- One Model transforms messy HR data into clear, actionable insight.
- Full model transparency—no black box predictions.
- Award underscores demand for ethical AI in sensitive workforce decisions.
With over 5,000 nominations pouring in from more than 20 countries, the AI Breakthrough Awards are no small feat. This year, One Model’s win sends a clear signal: when it comes to people data, ethics and transparency aren’t just nice to have—they’re non-negotiable.
Why Ethical AI Is the Baseline, Not the Bonus
Today’s Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) navigate shrinking budgets, tight labor markets, and complex workforce decisions that must be fast, fair, and defensible. For them, black-box AI that spits out a result without context simply doesn’t cut it. Chris Butler, CEO of One Model, says it best: “We’ve built our platform on the idea that AI should be transparent, usable, and grounded in reality.”
How One Model Does It Differently
So what makes One Model stand out in the crowded AI-for-HR space? For starters, the platform tackles the chaos of siloed workforce data. It brings that fragmented data together, cleans it up, and structures it in a way HR teams can actually use—no data science PhD required.
One Model’s One AI Recipes feature lets HR pros build predictive models step-by-step, with intuitive templates that adjust for real-life variables like tenure, performance, geography, or diversity factors. It’s flexible and transparent at every turn.
Then there’s One AI Assistant—a generative AI tool that pulls up trends, flags outliers, and serves up instant, tailored recommendations. No more waiting on dashboards or a busy analytics team.
More Than Hype: Industry Recognition
The AI Breakthrough Awards spotlight innovation in areas from Generative AI to Robotics. Steve Johansson, managing director at AI Breakthrough, summed up One Model’s edge: “One Model sets itself apart by addressing the biggest challenges HR faces—fragmented data, lack of transparency, and hard-to-use AI tools. They’re revolutionizing people analytics by giving HR professionals the power to make informed decisions with confidence.”
Why This Matters for the Future of Work
Ethical AI isn’t just a talking point. For HR teams managing layoffs, promotions, pay equity, and hiring freezes, AI needs to deliver answers they can trust—and defend. With people’s livelihoods on the line, a black-box algorithm is a recipe for risk. By giving leaders full visibility into how predictions and recommendations are made, One Model helps build trust not just with HR teams, but with employees, boards, and regulators.
About the AI Breakthrough Awards
Now in its eighth year, the AI Breakthrough Awards honor standout companies, products, and leaders shaping the AI landscape. Categories span Generative AI, Natural Language Processing, Robotics, AIOps, and more. For companies like One Model, the recognition doesn’t just boost visibility—it validates their mission.
About One Model
Founded to help organizations unlock the full value of their people data, One Model combines secure data orchestration, powerful analytics, machine learning, and narrative storytelling in one platform. Its goal? Smarter, faster, more ethical workforce decisions that leaders can stand behind.
Learn more One Model
Conclusion
One Model’s big win is more than just a trophy. It’s a wake-up call for the industry: the future of AI in HR must be transparent, explainable, and designed for real people making real decisions. Anything less is just a black box, and the world has moved on from that.