The Josh Bersin Company has launched a major upgrade to its AI-powered HR assistant, Galileo, adding a reasoning model, expanded labor market data, and a new “consultant mode” aimed at improving decision-making across talent, compensation, and organizational development.
The latest release—called the Mercury upgrade—introduces multi-step processing capabilities for more complex HR tasks and expands the platform’s data sources by integrating Lightcast labor market data and SHL’s Universal Competency Framework. Galileo is now used by more than 200 organizations less than a year after its debut in 2024, the company said.
Josh Bersin, founder and CEO of the Oakland, Calif.-based human capital advisory firm, described the enhancements as a “monumental upgrade” that brings the platform closer to agentic AI, or software that can act autonomously to support professional work.
Expanded capabilities for HR decision-makers
Among the new features:
- A reasoning engine that enables “chain of thought” logic for tasks like benchmarking compensation and analyzing skills needs.
- A meeting assistant for recording discussions, generating summaries, and supporting follow-up actions.
- A consultant mode that guides HR teams through maturity assessments and benchmarking using Josh Bersin Company research models.
- SHL’s skills data for leadership evaluation, succession planning, and talent development.
- Lightcast integration, offering labor market analysis by location, role, and skill demand.
“These additions give HR professionals access to tools and insights that companies often spend millions of dollars to obtain,” said Bersin. “Galileo can now turn every HR professional into a superworker.”
Use cases across HR functions
The platform enables users to upload resumes and job descriptions for automated candidate ranking and interview guide creation, benchmark salaries by market, and assess leadership potential using behavioral data.
It also supports location-based hiring strategy by identifying regions with strong talent pools for specific roles, including variations in job titles, active employers, and compensation trends.
Galileo’s consultant mode offers self-assessment tools for HR program maturity across domains such as talent acquisition and employee experience, along with personalized action plans.
Industry adoption and data partnerships
Galileo’s evolution reflects The Josh Bersin Company’s emphasis on combining AI tools with proprietary research and expert frameworks. The platform is already in use at companies including Conagra Brands and Rolls-Royce.
The integration of Lightcast’s labor data provides access to more than 2.5 billion job postings and career profiles globally. SHL contributes science-based talent insight tools, further anchoring Galileo’s leadership and competency assessments in validated behavioral data.
The Josh Bersin Company said the Mercury release represents its most advanced offering yet and underscores its goal of equipping HR professionals with real-time, evidence-based guidance for complex workforce challenges.
