Majority of Americans who would feel uncomfortable (55%) Say It Is Because They Prefer an In-Person Interview

PHILADELPHIA, PA – According to a new survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults age 18+ conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Yoh, a leading international talent and outsourcing company and part of Day & Zimmermann, 88% of Americans say they would feel uncomfortable with an artificial intelligence (AI) job interview app being used during the candidate screening process.

Among Americans who say they would feel uncomfortable with an AI job interview app being used to screen candidates, reasons why include:

• 55% say they would prefer an in-person interview
• 48% say they don't trust AI to accurately interpret human cues/emotions
• 44% say their biometrics could be misinterpreted (e.g., if they’re nervous it may be interpreted as dishonest)
• 38% say they wouldn't be able to gauge the reactions of the interviewer
• 31% say they don't feel like they could be themselves
• 29% say they would be too self-conscious to give a good interview
• 25% say there would be potential for discrimination (e.g., potential employers could figure out my age, gender, race/ethnicity)
• 20% say they are afraid the technology will steal their image/likeness

“While we’ve found that more and more of today’s workers are comfortable with technology’s presence in the workplace, it seems that a significant majority still want a personal touch that comes with a person-to-person job interview,” said Emmett McGrath, President of Yoh. “While using AI and other technologies as part of the candidate screening process can be useful, at this point it should be used only to augment the skill and insights that an experienced recruiter and/or interviewer brings to the hiring process. It takes the best recruiters to hire the best people for today’s jobs.”

Additional findings include:

• Younger generation just as uncomfortable as older generation with AI app being used to screen candidates. Despite a perceived comfort with most technology as compared to older generations, 89% of Americans age 18-34 say they would feel uncomfortable with an AI job interview app being used during the candidate screening process. Among those age 35 and older, the figure is nearly identical at 88%.

• Significantly more Americans age 65+ who would feel uncomfortable with an artificial intelligence (AI) job interview app being used during the candidate screening process say it is because they prefer an in-person interview. Of those age 65+ who say they would feel uncomfortable with an artificial intelligence job interview app being used during the candidate screening process, 64% say they would feel uncomfortable because they prefer an in-person interview. This is compared to 49% of those age 18-44.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Braithwaite from November 12-14, 2019 among 2,071 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,833 would feel uncomfortable with an artificial intelligence job interview app being used during the candidate screening process. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Joe McIntyre at joe@gobraithwaite.com.