More job seekers now meet AI before they meet a real person. In a May 2026 Greenhouse survey of 2,950 active job seekers, 63% said they had already done an AI interview. (greenhouse.com)
But the feeling is not calm. In the same report, 38% said they had quit a hiring process because it included an AI interview, and 70% said they were not clearly told in advance that AI would judge them. (greenhouse.com)
So, why are people worried?
First, many applicants do not know what the AI is checking. Greenhouse found that one big reason people walked away was a pre-recorded video interview scored by AI with no human there. Many also wanted a clear explanation of what the AI was measuring, and almost half wanted the choice of a human interview instead. (greenhouse.com)
Second, people worry about fairness. In the same survey, 36% felt age bias and 27% felt race or ethnicity bias from AI interviews. U.S. government guidance also warns that AI hiring tools can break disability law if they screen out qualified people, for example through face or voice analysis that may hurt people with autism or speech impairments. (greenhouse.com)
Third, there is worry about privacy and control. Illinois law says employers must tell applicants before AI analyzes a video interview, explain how it works, get consent, and delete the video within 30 days if the applicant asks. New York City also requires bias audits and notice before certain automated hiring tools are used. (ilga.gov)
Still, job seekers are not saying no to all AI. Only 19% said they want less AI in hiring. Many are saying something simpler: be open, be fair, and keep humans in the process. (greenhouse.com)










