I Interviewed an Algorithm and It Had Some Feedback for Me
How AI in HR mirrors our values and challenges us to lead with intention.
I Interviewed an Algorithm and It Had Some Feedback for Me
A few years ago, if you had told me I would be working alongside artificial intelligence to hire people, I would have pictured robots in the interview room.
Instead, here we are.
Now, algorithms scan resumes before I finish my morning coffee. Interviews schedule themselves while I am juggling meetings. Predictive tools flag retention risks faster than a manager notices them.
AI is not coming to HR. It is already here.
And I will admit it — it is impressive.
But one afternoon, while reviewing candidate data from an automated system, I had a thought.
What if I interviewed the algorithm?
What would it say about us?
Probably something simple:
I only know what you taught me.
And that stopped me.
The Magic and the Mirror
AI feels like magic. It saves time, removes repetitive tasks, and spots patterns we might miss. Platforms like Workday and SAP forecast workforce trends in ways we could not have imagined a decade ago.
But AI does not create culture. It mirrors it.
If we have historically favored certain schools, backgrounds, or personality types, the system will follow that pattern. If performance reviews were inconsistent, automation will scale those inconsistencies efficiently.
AI is not biased on purpose. It is biased by input.
And that changes everything.
When Efficiency Meets Responsibility
Early in my career, recruiting was hands-on. Tiny decisions shaped entire teams — a tweak in screening criteria, a subtle preference, a harmless-looking metric that quietly influenced outcomes.
Now imagine that multiplied by automation.
The conversation is not about speed. It is about responsibility.
Who checks the system?
How often do we audit it?
Do employees understand how decisions are made?
Are we using AI to support people or quietly replace them?
Efficiency is exciting. Trust is fragile. In HR, trust is everything.
The Companies That Get It
The best organizations do not shout “AI first.”
They say “people first, powered by AI.”
They reskill teams instead of shrinking them.
They update policies before issues arise.
They communicate clearly about automation.
They keep humans involved in final decisions.
They treat AI like a co-pilot, not the captain.
And here is the surprise: when they do, HR becomes more human, not less.
Automation creates time for real conversations, coaching, and culture-building. Technology creates space. People decide what to do with it.
The Real Plot Twist
After more than a decade in HR, moving from manual recruiting to tech-enabled strategy, here is what I have learned:
AI has not made HR less human. It has forced us to be intentional about being human.
The future of HR is not about replacing people with technology. It is about designing workplaces where technology helps people become their best selves.
And if I ever sit across from that algorithm, I hope it says one thing:
