Amid a recent spate of high-profile layoffs and a recognition many companies rushed to hire to fill pandemic-driven business needs, organizations are now refocusing on quality of hiring -- and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in those efforts. From 35% to 45% of companies are expected to use AI-based talent acquisition software and services to help select and interview job prospects in the coming year, according to two recent studies. Nearly three in four organizations boosted their purchases of talent acquisition technology in 2022 and 70% plan to continue investing this year -- even if a recession arrives -- according to a survey by online job recruitment service Modern Hire. More recently, AI has been applied to the task of creating job requisitions and similar materials shared by the employer that are gender and ethnicity neutral; the goal is to eliminate as much human bias as possible in hiring and increase diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The shift comes as the US unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% last month -- and just 1.8% in the tech sector -- making it hard for organizations to recruit top talent even as many companies lay off workers hired in haste during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are excited to bring Transform 2022 back in-person July 19 and virtually July 20 - 28. Join AI and data leaders for insightful talks and exciting networking opportunities. A few weeks ago, VentureBeat published an article titled "Why you shouldn't be using AI for hiring" that claimed shortcomings in AI-based hiring tools make them unfair. As someone who has worked in the recruiting tech sector for two decades and heads research and product innovation at an AI-based hiring platform company, I'd like to offer a counterpoint to that story. On these points, the author is completely wro … err, actually correct. But I want to clarify a few points about AI in hiring because it can be quite useful in the right contexts.

"Life isn't fair" is perhaps one of the most frequently repeated philosophical statements passed down from generation to generation. In a world increasingly dominated by data, however, groups of people that have already been dealt an unfair hand may see themselves further disadvantaged through the use of algorithms to determine whether or not they qualify for employment, housing, or credit, among other basic needs for survival. In the past few years, more attention has been paid to algorithmic bias, but there is still debate about both what can be done to address the issue, as well as what should be done. The use of an algorithm is not at issue; algorithms are essentially a set of instructions on how to complete a problem or task. Yet the lack of transparency surrounding the data and how it is weighed and used for decision making is a key concern, particularly when the algorithm's use may impact people in significant ways, often with no explanation as to why they have been deemed unqualified or unsuitable for a product, service, or opportunity.

As employers seek to diversify their hiring practices, AI can be an important tool to level the playing field. Hiring platform Modern Hire has unveiled a new on-demand AI video interview feature. The platform evaluates interview responses and gives hiring managers a score for each applicant with its Automated Interview Scoring AI feature. The launch of the AIS program is part of an effort to ensure a more fair and unbiased hiring experience. Interviews are standardized and focus only on the job-related aspects of interviewee's responses.

Large employers adding new processes to conduct job interviews with candidates. If you are tech-challenged as some Baby Boomers are, you will likely struggle with these new advancements in the interviewing process. Interviewing and hiring have changed overnight. Employers are now ramping up and using more AI or artificial intelligence than ever before. The pandemic produced a significant challenge for employers. They could no longer conduct face-to-face job interviews and found an increase in applicants' volume applying for available jobs.