Description

Artificial intelligence use in the job hunt is happening so fast it's hard to keep track and applicants and employers are feeling harassed by the speed of the change.   Candidates find themselves trapped in a paradox where they need to write applications that make it through the screening while also standing out when an application eventually reaches a human decision maker.  AI interviews are increasingly popular as well for hiring organisations which job hunters are reporting can make the process depressing and dehumanising.  Research on the impact of these tools in their first years also suggests that the use of AI tools for hiring runs the risk of discriminatory practices being baked into the process. There's also a concern that employers run the risk of ending up with a distinct lack of diversity of thought in their teams.  But employers and hiring managers love these tools and argue that they can improve the process for job candidates as well.  So, what do we do?  Lisa logs on with a legal researcher into the impact of AI hiring models and gets the goods from behind the digital curtain on how to beat the bot!   Guests:  Dr Natalie Sheard, Lawyer and McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne studying discrimination by AI systems, particularly those used in employment. Rudy Crous, Organisational psychologist and CEO of AI Human Relations firm Compono  ======== You can binge more episodes of the This Working Life podcast with your on the job correspondent Lisa Leong on the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.  Please email us at thisworkinglife@abc.net.au if you would like to get in touch, we read them all and love hearing from you!

Summary

This discussion examines the proliferation of algorithmic screening and AI-driven interviews in the Australian labor market, highlighting significant risks regarding baked-in discrimination and dehumanization. The content emphasizes how automated hiring systems can entrench bias and reduce diversity of thought, posing challenges to ethical AI governance within professional sectors. While it focuses primarily on socio-economic impacts and algorithmic fairness rather than catastrophic existential risks, it provides critical Australian-specific context for the regulation of high-stakes AI applications. The participation of legal researchers from the University of Melbourne underscores the intersection of domestic labor law and emerging frontier AI capabilities.

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