Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly gaining the trust of HR professionals in the recruitment sector, according to a recent report by HireVue. The survey, which included responses from 1,000 HR professionals, revealed that a significant majority believe in AI's capabilities to enhance the hiring process. The findings are a testament to the growing reliance on AI technology in HR, despite ongoing concerns about its potential biases.

The report found that 67% of HR professionals think AI performs as well as or even better than humans at identifying well-qualified applicants. Additionally, 73% expressed confidence in AI systems to make candidate recommendations. 

This growing trust in AI underscores its perceived efficiency and effectiveness in handling recruitment tasks, which can often be time-consuming and complex when performed manually.

Despite the increasing trust in AI, concerns about its potential biases remain prevalent. AI's reputation for bias in recruitment was notably highlighted in 2018 when Amazon's AI recruiting tool showed a preference for male candidates over female ones. This incident underscored the risk of AI systems perpetuating existing biases present in the data they are trained on.

Anwar Khalil, CEO of Martian Logic, pointed out that AI models could inadvertently learn and replicate unconscious biases from their users. "In recruitment, you might be going through a list of people that have applied for a role.

You might look at a first and a last name, and based on the world that you grew up in, an unconscious bias might creep into your mind and result in a quick decision that someone with this name couldn't do this job," Khalil said. "That applicant will be placed into the 'no' pile, and you'll move on to the next candidate. The AI needs to learn that it shouldn’t take that opinion into account."

Khalil emphasized the need for a deliberate and informed approach to AI to mitigate these biases. He argued that AI systems should be designed to recognize and disregard such biases, ensuring a fairer recruitment process.

Barb Hyman, CEO of Sapia.ai, highlighted another critical aspect of using AI in recruitment: the data on which these systems rely. "So that's where the risk is, it all comes down to what data are you relying on to assess whether that person's data profile fits this one or not," she explained. The quality and representativeness of the data are crucial in determining the effectiveness and fairness of AI-driven recruitment tools.

Despite the enthusiasm around AI, experts urge caution. Lindsey Zuloaga, Chief Data Scientist at HireVue, advised employers to be wary of lofty promises from AI vendors. "Hiring is a high-stakes domain, and talent teams should prioritize partnering with companies that validate their claims with audits and fairness documentation," Zuloaga said in a statement. "Remember, these tools are remarkable, not magic. Be wary of anyone overpromising results without the ability to back up their claims."

The future of AI in recruitment

The survey results indicate a positive outlook for AI's role in recruitment, with HR professionals increasingly trusting its capabilities. However, the ongoing challenges of ensuring fairness and avoiding biases highlight the need for careful implementation and continuous monitoring of AI systems. As AI continues to evolve, its integration into HR practices must be handled with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations.

The findings of the HireVue survey reflect broader trends in the HR industry, where technology is being leveraged to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Companies that effectively integrate AI into their recruitment strategies could gain a competitive advantage by identifying top talent more quickly and accurately. However, they must also navigate the ethical and practical challenges associated with AI to ensure their hiring practices remain fair and inclusive.