Are These States About to Make a Big Mistake on AI?

If you’ve looked for a job recently, AI may well have a hidden hand in the process. An AI recruiter might have scored your LinkedIn profile or resume. HR professionals might have used a different AI app to scrape your social media profiles and spit out scores for your cheerfulness and ability to work with others. They also might have used AI to analyze your word choice or facial expressions in a video interview, and used yet another app to run an AI background check on you.

It’s not at all clear how well these programs work. AI background check companies have been sued for making mistakes that cost people job opportunities and income. Some resume screening tools have been found to perpetuate bias. One resume screening program identified two factors as the best predictors of future job performance: having played high school lacrosse and being named Jared. Another assessment provided high scores in English proficiency even when questions were answered exclusively in German.

To make matters worse, companies don’t have to tell you when they use AI or algorithmic software to set your car insurance premiums or rent, or make major decisions about your employment, medical care or housing, much less test those technologies for accuracy or bias.