AI in hiring: discussing pros and cons
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Think about these questions before reading. Share your ideas with a partner.
- Describe a time you applied for a job online. What was the process like, and what did you find easy or frustrating about it?
- If you were hiring someone for an important role in your company, what qualities would you look for that a computer might struggle to identify?
- Imagine a future where all job applications are first reviewed by an AI. What do you think would be the biggest advantage of this system, and what would be your biggest concern?
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AI in Recruitment: A Double-Edged Sword?
Listen to the dialogue. Notice how the vocabulary and grammar from the lesson are used.
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Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the article.
01According to the article, what are some of the key concepts one needs to understand when discussing the use of AI in the hiring process?
Sample answerThe article highlights several important terms, including 'resume screening', 'algorithm', and 'bias'. It also mentions that this bias can lead to 'discriminatory outcomes' and that AI might struggle with assessing 'soft skills'.
02Why are descriptions of AI recruitment often focused on the process itself (e.g., 'resumes are screened') rather than on the AI performing the action?
Sample answerThe focus is on the steps and outcomes of the process, which is more relevant in a business context than the specific software doing the work. This impersonal style emphasizes the objectivity the system is supposed to have.
03What does the article imply about the nature of adopting new technologies like AI in a business setting?
Sample answerIt implies that it's a complex decision with both good and bad points. By including a section on presenting 'both the positive and negative aspects', the article suggests that any discussion about adopting new technology requires a balanced debate, not a simple yes or no.
04Beyond resume screening, what are some other stages of the hiring process that could potentially be automated or assisted by AI?
Sample answerAI could also be used to schedule interviews, conduct initial chatbot-based screenings to ask basic questions, analyze video interviews for key indicators, or even help write job descriptions to attract a more diverse pool of candidates.
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Key vocabulary for discussing new technology
Vocabulary
These expressions will help you discuss the pros and cons of technology like AI in a professional context.
Examples
To streamline a process — to make a system or process more effective and efficient by using simpler or faster methods.
Usage note: this is a very common business collocation. You can talk about streamlining workflows, operations, or procedures. It always has a positive meaning.
A double-edged sword — something that has both positive and negative effects.
Usage note: use this idiom to introduce a balanced argument. For example: 'Using AI in hiring is a double-edged sword; it's efficient, but it can also be biased.'
To flag something as [adjective/noun] — to mark something as important or problematic so that it will be noticed.
Usage note: this phrasal verb is often used in a technical context. An AI might 'flag a CV as a high priority' or 'flag an application for review' because of a potential issue.
Human oversight — the act of a person supervising a process or system, especially one that is automated.
Usage note: this term is crucial when discussing automation and AI. It refers to the need for a person to check the AI's work to prevent errors or unfairness. We often say there is a 'need for human oversight'.
To weed out candidates — to remove or eliminate unsuitable people from a group.
Usage note: this is a slightly informal but very common expression in recruitment. It describes the first stage of selection where many applicants are rejected. A more formal alternative is 'to filter out candidates'.
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Collocations for recruitment
Many common phrases are used when discussing hiring and technology. Can you match them?
Match the beginning of each phrase on the left with its correct ending on the right.
Drag or click to match
Definitions
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Grammar: the passive voice for processes
Grammar
We use the passive voice to focus on an action or process, rather than the person or thing performing it. This is very common in professional and technical contexts, like describing how AI works in recruitment, because the focus is on the steps of the process.
Examples
First, thousands of resumes are screened automatically by the software.
The focus is on the resumes and the action (screening), not the software. We use 'by' here to specify the agent.
Qualified candidates might be overlooked if the algorithm is not programmed correctly.
The passive voice is often used with modal verbs (might, could, should) to discuss possibilities or potential problems in a process.
Once a shortlist has been created, it is sent to the hiring manager.
This example uses the present perfect passive ('has been created') to show that one step of the process is finished before the next one begins.
Key points
- Form the passive with the verb 'to be' + past participle (e.g., is analyzed, were rejected, has been sent).
- Use it when the agent (the 'doer') is unknown, obvious, or less important than the action itself.
- If you need to mention the agent, add it at the end with the preposition 'by'.
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Find the mistake
Read the sentences below. Each one has a single error related to grammar or vocabulary from the lesson.
Find the error and write the correct sentence.
01Once applications are received, they are screen by an AI to check for keywords.
Corrected version
Once applications are received, they are screen screened by an AI to check for keywords.
02The main goal of using this technology is to streamline the recruit process.
Corrected version
The main goal of using this technology is to streamline the recruit recruitment process.
03The list of criteria that is used to evaluate candidates need to be transparent.
Corrected version
The list of criteria that is used to evaluate candidates need needs to be transparent.
04Without proper human oversee, many good applicants could be rejected by mistake.
Corrected version
Without proper human oversee, oversight, many good applicants could be rejected by mistake.
05A system must be designed to weed off unsuitable candidates automatically.
Corrected version
A system must be designed to weed off out unsuitable candidates automatically.
06By the time a manager sees the shortlist, hundreds of CVs might have already been reject.
Corrected version
By the time a manager sees the shortlist, hundreds of CVs might have already been reject. rejected.
07This approach is a double-edged sword; it's efficient but also carries a significant risks.
Corrected version
This approach is a double-edged sword; it's efficient but also carries a significant risks. risk.
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Useful phrases: Discussing the pros and cons of a new strategy
Vocabulary
In professional settings, you'll often need to discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of a new idea, like adopting AI for hiring. These phrases will help you present your arguments clearly and professionally in a meeting.
Examples
On the plus side, it could significantly... — used to introduce a clear advantage or positive aspect.
Register: Neutral. Perfect for opening a point in a team meeting. You can complete the sentence with a benefit, like '...reduce our time-to-hire'.
My main concern revolves around... — a polite and professional way to introduce a potential problem or risk.
Register: Neutral/Formal. Use this to sound thoughtful and constructive, not just negative. Follow it with the specific issue, e.g., '...the risk of inherent bias in the algorithm'.
I see the appeal of its efficiency, but I'm not entirely convinced about... — shows you've listened to the positive argument but still have reservations.
Register: Neutral. A great way to transition from acknowledging a pro to introducing a con. For example: '...its ability to accurately judge soft skills'.
To build on that point, we should also consider... — used to add a supporting argument to what someone else has just said.
Register: Neutral/Formal. This makes you sound like a collaborative team player. Use it when you agree with the previous speaker and want to add more evidence for their point.
We need to be careful that we don't... — a way to warn about a potential negative consequence in a non-confrontational way.
Register: Neutral. This phrase focuses on the collective 'we', making it a softer way to express a serious concern. For example: '...lose the human touch in our hiring process'.
Is there a middle ground we can find here? — used to move the conversation from debating towards finding a practical solution.
Register: Neutral. Use this when the discussion is stuck between two opposing views. It signals that you want to find a compromise, such as a trial period or a phased rollout.
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The role of AI in modern hiring
Read the passage about how companies use technology in recruitment.
Fill in each blank with the correct word or phrase from the word bank.
Word bank
Many companies are adopting AI to their recruitment process, especially when dealing with thousands of applications. The technology can quickly candidates who don't meet the basic criteria, saving recruiters countless hours. However, this automation is often seen as a , as algorithms can sometimes introduce unintended bias. For this reason, many systems are designed to certain applications for review, ensuring that is maintained to prevent discriminatory outcomes.
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Reading: a case study in automation
Read the passage below, then answer the comprehension questions.
A large tech firm recently introduced an AI tool designed to streamline its hiring process. Initially, the system was celebrated for its efficiency. Thousands of applications were scanned in minutes, and candidates who didn't meet specific criteria were automatically weeded out. However, it soon became clear that this technology was a double-edged sword. The algorithm, trained on historical company data, began to flag applications from certain universities as 'less suitable'. This happened because, in the past, most successful hires had come from a small pool of elite schools. Without proper human oversight, the system was simply repeating old patterns instead of identifying new talent. The process had been made faster, but not necessarily fairer. A full review of the system was immediately ordered by management.
01What was the primary initial goal of implementing the AI tool?
Sample answerThe main goal was to make the hiring process more effective and efficient (to streamline it).
02According to the text, why did the AI start to prefer candidates from certain universities?
Sample answerBecause it was trained on the company's past hiring data, which showed that most successful employees had attended a small number of elite universities.
03The passage says the technology was a 'double-edged sword'. What was the negative effect?
Sample answerThe negative effect was that the system unfairly disadvantaged candidates from certain universities, reinforcing old biases instead of finding new talent.
04What can be inferred about the company's future approach to using this AI tool?
Sample answerIt can be inferred that the company will likely increase human oversight or adjust the algorithm to ensure the process is fairer, as they ordered a full review after discovering the problem.
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Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.
- Some argue that AI, if programmed correctly, could eliminate human bias from hiring, while others believe it just automates and hides existing prejudices. Which viewpoint do you find more convincing, and why? Consider the role of 'human oversight'.
- Thinking about the job market in your country or industry, which types of roles are most suitable for an AI-driven process to 'streamline' recruitment, and which should always require significant human involvement?
- The use of AI to 'weed out candidates' is often described as a 'double-edged sword'. Beyond efficiency, what are some potential long-term consequences—both positive and negative—for a company's culture if it relies heavily on AI to build its teams?