How Americans feel about trendy use of AI in job interviews
Where AI is concerned in replacing human-led tasks, 43% of Americans draw the line at interviewing for a job with one, according to new research.
An exclusive survey conducted for Newsweek by Talker Research explored sentiments around AI job interviews.
The survey, conducted between Oct. 21-24, 2024, sampled 1,000 Americans, with results showing that 43% expressed discomfort with the idea of AI conducting a job interview.
A third of respondents were more open to the idea, with 32% saying they’d feel comfortable with AI leading their interview process.
On the other hand, one in four are left undecided, unsure of what that might even look like (26%).
From a generational standpoint, older survey-takers were the likeliest to be uncomfortable with AI leading a job interview, with baby boomers leading that group (56%) and 40% of Gen X sharing the same sentiment.
Lars Nyman, chief marketing officer of CUDO Compute, provided insight into why this may be the case.
“The discomfort stems from a fundamental fear of dehumanization and loss of dignity; it’s akin to pitching your life story to a vending machine,” Nyman told Newsweek. “Certain AI applications, like scheduling or data analysis, are welcomed because they simplify life without stripping it of its human touch. In contrast, when AI steps into roles requiring empathy and judgment, like job interviews, the reception is chillier.”
However, Philip Gjørup, co-founder of Nord Comms, sees potential for AI to aid in hiring.
“I believe it is very likely that AI will be used for job interviews in the near future, as companies can train AI to identify precisely the attributes and qualifications they seek,” Gjørup said to Newsweek.
Additionally, Nyman supported the idea that AI may help with speeding up the process and providing insight on how AI is already being used within hiring processes.
“The leap to AI-led interviews was only a matter of time,” Nyman said.
However, he added that job interviews are inherently personal, requiring the kind of nuanced interpersonal skills that current AI still struggles to interpret, with Gjørup backing the sentiment that AI isn’t infallible.
“That said, it’s unlikely that AI will completely replace human interviewers — at least for now,” Gjørup said.
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 1,000 general population Americans; the survey was commissioned by Newsweek and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Oct. 21 and Oct. 24, 2024.
