Dehumanization and Limits of Artificial Intelligence Within Recruiting: The Optimal Interaction Between Humans and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the recruitment landscape by enhancing efficiency, scalability, and accuracy. However, its adoption brings forth significant ethical dilemmas, such as dehumanization, bias, and transparency challenges. This dissertation delves into these issues within recruitment processes, aiming to find a harmonious interaction between AI and human recruiters.
The study emphasizes the advantages of AI, including the automation of repetitive tasks, improved candidate matching through predictive analytics, and cost savings. Simultaneously, it points out critical drawbacks, such as the reinforcement of biases from historical data, a lack of personalization, and concerns regarding candidate data privacy. Dehumanization—the decline of empathy and personal connection in hiring emerges as a significant concern, potentially harming employer-employee relationships and negatively impacting the candidate experience.
Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative and quantitative data to explore these issues. Interviews with HR professionals and AI specialists reveal a shared understanding of the necessity for a balanced strategy in AI integration. Statistical analyses further highlight the importance of transparency and fairness in reducing bias and building trust.
The dissertation suggests a hybrid recruitment model that merges AI’s efficiency with human insight. This model prioritizes fairness audits, explainable AI systems, and ethical oversight to strike a balance between automation and empathy. Practical recommendations include training AI systems on diverse datasets, utilizing fairness-aware algorithms, and encouraging collaboration between human recruiters and AI technologies.
This research adds to the academic and professional conversation by tackling the ethical and operational challenges that AI presents in recruitment. It provides actionable insights for HR professionals, AI developers, and policymakers to enhance recruitment processes while maintaining humanity and fairness.