AI Hiring Tools: The Perpetuation of Historic Biases
The article discusses the potential for AI hiring tools to institutionalize discrimination and perpetuate historic biases.
The author argues that relying too heavily on AI for recruiting can lead to discrimination against certain groups, such as women and people of color, and can erode laws in democracies.
The article cites a 2022 Cambridge University study that found that voice and phrenology analyses are unreliable and biased methods for identifying ideal applicant traits.
The author also mentions a case from 2018 in which Amazon's recruitment tool was found to be biased due to the predominantly male data used to train it, causing it to reject female applicants.
The article also discusses the use of AI in recruiting prior to AI tools, such as Applicant Tracking Systems, which can also perpetuate biases.
The author emphasizes the importance of having experienced professionals involved in the implementation of AI recruiting methods and the need for proper safeguards and monitoring to prevent discrimination and ensure that society has access to opportunities.
The article discusses the use of AI and automation in hiring and the potential for bias in these processes.
It notes that 79% of organizations used a combination of automation and AI for hiring in 2022 and that the majority of these organizations are unaware that their system is producing biased outcomes.
The article suggests that relying too heavily on automation and AI is similar to commercial airlines using autopilot and that human intervention is necessary.
The article also highlights new legislation such as New York's Local Law 144 and the European Union's upcoming AI Act that aim to increase transparency and accountability in AI hiring.
The article suggests that organizations should educate themselves on safeguards such as auditing systems designed to detect bias and conducting thorough reviews of data sets used by AI learning.
It also notes that vendors should provide transparency within their algorithms and that clear explanations of efforts to mitigate bias and verified compliance to ongoing testing should be provided.
The article concludes by stating that AI can improve existing hiring practices if incorporated safely and effectively and that there is a balance that needs to be struck to produce transformational results and keep humankind in control of its future.