AI Agents Outperform Human Recruiters in Job Interviews, Study Finds

A recent research study reports that AI voice agents can perform job interviews as well, and sometimes better, than human interviewers.

Researchers from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Erasmus University Rotterdam conducted a field experiment with 67,000 job applicants in the Philippines.

In their research paper they explain that applicants were randomly assigned to interviews led by human recruiters, AI voice agents, or given a choice between the two.

The results were surprising. AI-led interviews generated 12% additional job offers, 18% more job acceptances, and 17% better employee retention during the first month of work.

Applicants rated AI interviews and recruiter quality similarly to human-led calls. Almost four in five applicants who had a choice opted for AI.

“We have to move from the ‘possible’ discourse to the hard-data discourse, so we don’t lose our rationality,” said Booth researcher Brian Jabarian, as reported by Bloomberg.

The research reported that AI interview systems covered more relevant job-related questions, leading candidates to provide more articulated information. The researchers argued that this improved recruitment choices.

Additionally, the researchers point out that since AI doesn’t get tired it can cover all essential questions. However, the researchers note that about 5% of applicants refused to speak to the AI, and technical issues occurred in 7% of cases, while some candidates noted the AI felt less natural.

Experts say the findings suggest AI can improve efficiency and job matching, particularly in high-volume roles like call centers.

The cost savings from automation depend on the size of the company, the wages of human recruiters, and the nature of the job. The research supports complete evaluation of AI systems before their implementation rather than rushing to implement them.

Bloomberg reports Jabarian noting, “Instead of listening to the visionaries, sprinkling chatbots everywhere and hoping for magic, deploying AI may soon mean putting decisions firmly in the hands of the bean-counters and scientists.”