“Please Speak to the Bot”: How AI-Led Job Interviews Are Becoming the New Normal

Across industries, employers are increasingly deploying AI interview bots as the first “face” candidates meet. These systems ask structured questions over chat or video, transcribe responses, and score them using natural language processing and machine learning. Platforms like HireVue, Olivia (Paradox), and other recruitment chatbots are already supporting or fully conducting early-round interviews, especially for high-volume roles and campus hiring.​

Surveys show that more than 70–80% of companies now use AI somewhere in their hiring process, and roughly a quarter already rely on AI to conduct or co-conduct interviews. Organisations report faster time-to-hire, lower recruiter workload, and more consistent question sets, which can reduce some forms of human bias and give candidates flexible, on-demand interview slots.​

However, researchers and regulators caution that AI-led interviews can also encode hidden biases, misread accents or expressions, and feel impersonal. New rules in the EU and US demand explainability, fairness audits, and clear disclosure when bots are used in hiring. Experts recommend using AI as a “co-pilot” while keeping humans in charge of final decisions and candidate experience.​

Key Highlights

AI bots now conduct chat and video interviews, scoring responses using NLP and ML.​

Tools such as HireVue, Olivia (Paradox), Mya, and others automate screening, Q&A, and scheduling.​

70–80% of firms use AI in hiring; about 20–25% already use it for interviews, cutting time-to-hire and costs.​

Benefits: standardized questions, 24/7 availability, scalable screening, and structured data on soft skills.​

Risks: algorithmic bias, misinterpretation of tone or facial cues, loss of human touch, and privacy concerns.​

Regulators now push for transparency, bias audits, and human oversight in AI interview systems.​

Sources: HireBee AI report, Economic Times Jobs, ResumeBuilder survey, vendor and research insights on AI recruiting.​