Introduction
In the age of artificial intelligence, industries across the board are experiencing transformation, and the field of recruitment is no exception. Chris Hyams, the CEO of Indeed, has unveiled a groundbreaking plan involving generative AI that promises to reshape the hiring landscape.
His strategy centers on creating ‘cyborg’ recruiters, combining the strengths of humans and AI to usher in a new era of innovation in the hiring process.
The vision is clear: to eliminate monotonous and laborious recruitment tasks while harnessing the unique abilities of human expertise and machine intelligence.
The Birth of Indeed Hire
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Hyams revealed that around 50 recruitment team members from Indeed have transitioned to a service known as Indeed Hire.
This service functions as a comprehensive agency, providing support to external companies in their recruitment efforts. By integrating AI technology, the aim is to streamline this role’s efficiency by identifying and automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
The Human-Machine Synergy
The collaboration between humans and machines takes the form of what Hyams calls a ‘cyborg model.’ This model emphasizes seamless cooperation, and it’s crucial to note that the goal isn’t to replace recruiters with robots. Instead, the objective is to empower recruiters with an ‘Iron Man suit’ that enhances their capabilities.
Hyams explained, “We have transferred about 50 of our own recruitment people to a product we call Indeed Hire, which is a full-service agency that helps other companies hire. We’re using AI to make this role more efficient.
What are the aspects of recruiting that are repetitive, that are annoying? I think of it as the cyborg model — machines and humans working together.
We’re not trying to replace you with robots. I want to build the Iron Man suit for recruiters.”
Generative AI and Its Role
The emergence of generative AI technologies, such as ChatGPT, has opened the door to automating various recruitment tasks. These include generating resumes, crafting job descriptions, and even handling salary negotiations.
By leveraging AI in these areas, the recruitment process can become more efficient and precise.
A Change in Workforce Dynamics
In March of this year, Indeed underwent a workforce reduction of approximately 15%, affecting roughly 2,200 individuals.
Regarding these layoffs, Hyams expressed regret, saying, “When things got busy for us, we just kept hiring more and more people. We had never had a layoff before in the company… I regret having that kind of impact on people’s lives.” Intriguingly, this reduction in the workforce did not extend to the AI team within the company.
Conclusion
Indeed’s CEO Chris Hyams is at the forefront of a transformative approach to hiring by embracing generative AI. The ‘cyborg’ model, where human expertise collaborates seamlessly with machine intelligence, offers the promise of making the recruitment process more efficient and streamlined.
As the influence of AI continues to shape various industries, the hiring landscape stands poised for innovation, empowering recruiters and improving the overall recruitment experience.
