Job Seekers Face New Frustration: Glitchy AI Interviewers
The job search process has always been a daunting task, filled with endless applications, cover letters, and waiting for responses that may never come. Now, job seekers are facing a new, even more daunting challenge: interviewing with glitchy, inhuman AI bots. Recently, several videos have gone viral on TikTok showing individuals attempting to navigate interviews with artificial intelligence-powered "interviewers" that are struggling to function properly.
While some of these videos are clearly labeled as satire or fake, others appear to be genuine. According to a report from Slate, several individuals, including Kendiana Colin, have shared their experiences of being forced to interview with an AI bot. Colin’s viral TikTok video shows an AI bot that couldn’t stop repeating the phrase "vertical-bar pilates" during an interview for a job at a stretching studio. "It was very disrespectful and a waste of time," Colin told Slate.
Another viral video appears to show an interview bot getting stuck in a loop, repeating phrases like "when, when, when" and "let’s circle back." The TikTok user who posted the video told Newsweek that it was a real interview for a genuine job, and not a satire. These experiences are not isolated, with many other AI interview videos circulating on TikTok, some of which are parodies or fakes designed to attract attention.
The phenomenon of AI interviews has become so prevalent that it’s now being satirized online. However, the line between reality and satire is often blurred, and it’s not always easy to distinguish between the two. For instance, a viral video that was clearly labeled as satire showed an AI bot malfunctioning in a similar way to the real pilates interview. The fact that companies like Apriora, a start-up mentioned in the Slate report, are selling AI bots as hiring solutions suggests that this trend is only going to continue.
As the job market continues to evolve, it’s likely that more and more job seekers will be forced to endure glitchy AI interviews in order to land a job. While the use of AI in the hiring process may be intended to streamline and improve efficiency, it’s clear that it’s not without its challenges. For now, job seekers will have to be prepared to navigate this new and often frustrating reality. Next time you apply for a job, be aware that you might have to suffer through a glitchy AI bot to earn that offer, a prospect that’s both daunting and unsettling.
