Diversity and Inclusion using AI: Reducing Bias During Hiring

Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to affect our lives.

Sorry, it is already affecting our lives. Do you agree with what’s just been said?

Computers have now become more intelligent and are affecting the way we work. Most importantly, it can help reduce unconscious bias during recruitment.

In the present day, AI as a technology has proven to be an efficient tool in promoting diversity and inclusion (DI) in workplaces.

Although organizations are in dire need to recruit talent to reduce differences across the globe, most people are seen to be biased while hiring. This could either be a conscious or unconscious type of bias. According to studies, it is proven that companies with diverse talent have performed much better on financial grounds. Companies with top quartile in ethnicity and racial diversity were more likely to have better financial returns, around 35 percent, which is above the national industry standards.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity at workplaces gained its attention in the 1960s, where a major focus was given to protecting gender and race. Even since, the definition of diversity expanded widely which led to identification factors such as sexual orientation, demographic characteristics, and individual attributes.

However, to overcome challenges associated with diversity, every organization needs to create an inclusive environment.

As an HR professional, you must express positive views of both diversity and inclusion within the organization.

In a survey conducted by UNLEASH and IBM, it was found that almost 90 percent of them believed diversity can bring forth improvements that outweigh the challenges faced by people of different races, gender, culture working together.

But as humans, we’re often inclined toward being bias. But it is not the same case with AI.

Adopting artificial intelligence in the recruitment process is a way forward to overcome the bias that cannot be achieved by humans.

AI acts as a powerful tool that recognizes talent that has often been overlooked.

How AI-driven ATS is helping the HR industry?

With the help of technology, it helps identify the candidate’s competency through which further creates an objective ranking system making the software efficiently. This is why using smart technology such as AI will reshape and transform HR strategies worldwide.

Here’s how organizations can start implementing AI to reduce biased hiring:

• AI ranks candidates without being biased

The software matches a group of candidates and then creates ranking based upon their competency level. Such steps reduce the recruiters’ time in selecting candidates, they can now simply look at the objective ranking created by AI.

When looked at the ranking, you will notice that the candidate at the highest position will be the one with the highest job compatibility.

• Sourcing through AI does not determine the candidate’s potential through appearance

Technology not only reduces time in making relevant candidate selection but also offers bias-free hiring. As an HR professional, you’re likely to source your talent through multiple profiles based on culture, race, face, and nations. Whereas, the software utilizes advanced search options like Boolean search operator to find the right talent with the exact skills the organization is looking to hire.

• AI has no preferences

AI is a powerful technology that helps recruit the right talent and match them with a specific job description. The technology scans thoroughly through the resume and job descriptions and finds relevant elements that match the candidates’ skill sets. Moreover, when a resume is uploaded to the AI-supported system, it transforms all the resume’s content into sentences that get stripped of elements that might be biased.

Be warned: AI shouldn’t be misused

Diversity and inclusion (DI) can be achieved only if the technology is rightfully used. AI plays a significant role in providing equal access to job opportunities.

As AI gets integrated into multiple sectors to improve manual work, it has become crucial to ensure the technology is not being abused.

At the outset, AI is deemed to be judgment neutral. However, given the fact that AI solutions need humans to make decisions, it is crucial to keep testing datasets for any type of bias. To embark on the journey toward inclusivity, human resource professionals need to start building their focus toward developing a diverse work environment.