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AI Chatbots Are The New Job Interviewers

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Summary

Companies are increasingly using AI chatbot recruiters to interview and screen job applicants, especially for blue collar jobs. However, experts and job applicants have expressed concern that these tools may be biased and discriminatory against certain applicants, such as those with disabilities, poor English proficiency, and older job applicants. Moreover, companies have not been transparent about why potential candidates are rejected. To combat this, New York City and Illinois have both passed laws to monitor and regulate the use of automation in hiring tools. Despite this, companies are still using chatbots to save on recruiting costs and find viable candidates in a larger pool. However, there is the fear that this could lead to hiring more of the same people, which could lead to discrimination.

Q&As

What industries are increasingly using AI chatbots to screen job applicants?
Healthcare, retail, and restaurants are increasingly using AI chatbots to screen job applicants.

What are some potential pitfalls of using AI chatbots to recruit and interview job applicants?
Potential pitfalls of using AI chatbots to recruit and interview job applicants include bias, discrimination, lack of transparency, and lack of alternative options for availability or job roles for people with disabilities or medical conditions.

What legislation has been enacted to protect applicants from potential bias when using AI tools?
New York City has enacted a law requiring employers who use automated tools like resume scanners and chatbot interviews to audit their tools for gender and racial bias. In 2020, Illinois passed a law requiring employers who apply AI to analyze video interviews to notify applicants and obtain consent.

What are the potential benefits of AI chatbots in recruiting?
Potential benefits of AI chatbots in recruiting include trimming recruiting costs, providing recruiters with the ability to talk to a wider swath of candidates, and providing job applicants with assurance that their application was received.

How are AI chatbots analyzing job applicant responses to questions?
AI chatbots are analyzing job applicant responses to questions by measuring sentence structure, readability, complexity of words used in the text responses, and looking for traits and skills that match the recruiters’ preferences.

AI Comments

👍 It is great to see companies innovating and using technology to help improve the hiring process. It is encouraging to see that companies are taking proactive steps to ensure that there is no bias in their hiring decisions.

👎 It is concerning that AI chatbots may not be able to recognize when a potential candidate needs an accommodation, and that there is room for prejudice to be baked into the hiring process. It is also worrisome that the chatbots may not be able to recognize when a qualified candidate is being unfairly rejected.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how AI chatbots are being used to interview and screen job applicants, often for blue collar jobs. But experts and job applicants are worried that these tools could be biased.

Friend: That's concerning. What are the implications of this article?

Me: Well, experts are concerned that chatbots may not provide people with disabilities or medical conditions with alternative options for availability or job roles. They're also concerned that bias may be baked into these tools, leading to discrimination against certain applicants. Additionally, using chatbots may reduce recruiting costs, but it could also lead to a reduced pool of viable candidates.

Action items

Research the laws and regulations in your area regarding the use of AI in hiring tools.
Consider the potential biases that could be baked into AI chatbot recruiters and how they could impact job applicants.
Reach out to companies that use AI chatbot recruiters to inquire about their hiring process and how they are addressing potential bias.

Technical terms

AI: Artificial Intelligence. A form of computer technology that is designed to simulate human intelligence and behavior.
Chatbot: A computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the Internet.
Algorithmic Hiring Tools: Computer programs that use algorithms to analyze data and make decisions about hiring.
Reasonable Accommodations: Adjustments to a job or work environment that enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.
Discrimination: Unfair treatment of a person or group on the basis of prejudice or for other arbitrary reasons.
Machine Learning: A type of artificial intelligence that uses algorithms to learn from data and make predictions.
Personality Test: A type of psychological test that measures an individual's personality traits.