Myers Explains How AI is Affecting Hiring Practices
Dan Myers, a professor of computer science at Rollins College, contributed to this Straight Arrow News feature on how employers are using AI in the hiring process.
September 23, 2026
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping employer hiring practices, but its expanding role in candidate selection is raising ethical, legal, and operational concerns. According to a report by software firm TestGorilla, 70% of U.S. employers used AI in their hiring process in 2025. Driven in part by an influx of AI-generated resumes and automated job applications, companies increasingly rely on machine learning models to screen applicants, transcribe interviews, and evaluate candidate fit.
However, experts caution that automated decision-making carries significant risks of algorithmic bias and data misuse. One major system facing scrutiny is Workday, which is currently in the discovery phase of a civil lawsuit alleging its software discriminated against job applicants over age 40.
Myers noted that while candidate screening with software is common, allowing automated systems to make definitive hiring decisions creates serious dilemmas.
"How can you be really certain that your machine learning model is not accidentally training itself to pick up on some signal that you really should not be considering in the hiring process?" Myers asked.
Beyond potential discrimination, privacy and data usage present additional challenges. Candidates may consent to data collection for an interview without fully understanding how their recordings or personal information will be stored or repurposed afterward.
"If you’re using a certain model, you have an obligation to make sure that the way that the model processes its data, the types of conclusions that it draws are defensible and ethical ones, even if not strictly as a matter of law, but as a matter of professionalism and ethics," Myers said.
The surge in corporate AI adoption is largely a reaction to job seekers using generative tools like ChatGPT and Claude to apply to hundreds of positions simultaneously, overloading recruiters.
"We’re seeing the intersection of the abilities of AI combined with the fears that people have of being left behind," Myers said.
While computer science and philosophy experts agree that AI can streamline initial candidate screening, they emphasize that human oversight remains essential to ensure fair hiring standards, prevent algorithmic errors, and maintain the personal connection critical to evaluating potential employees.
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