5 minutes into the interview, I realised my candidate wasn’t human.
When the Candidate Isn’t Human: A Surreal Experience in AI-Driven Hiring
Recruitment is a high-stakes process that demands attentiveness, intuition, and often, a good dose of human judgment. However, recent developments in artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming the landscape—sometimes in ways that challenge even seasoned HR professionals. I recently experienced a bizarre and eye-opening interview that underscored just how far AI technology has come—and the unsettling possibilities it now presents.
The Unexpected Encounter During a Job Interview
Our team was in the process of hiring for an AI engineering role, a position that naturally attracted candidates with technical expertise. I scheduled a virtual interview, prepared to gauge both technical skills and cultural fit. As the meeting comenzó, I initiated some typical warm-up conversations—small talk, discussions about the candidate’s background, the usual.
It didn’t take long to notice something odd. The candidate’s head moved repetitively and unnaturally during the conversation, almost as if it was looping or stuck in a cycle. At first, I considered technical glitches—perhaps a lag in the video feed or a camera issue. But as the interview continued, more peculiar behaviors emerged.
The Uncanny Fluency
Suddenly, the candidate spoke uninterrupted for over two minutes, delivering a flawlessly articulated monologue without a single hesitation, filler, or detectable pause. It was a level of fluency that was almost unsettling—like listening to a perfectly scripted speech rather than a natural human response.
Curious and slightly suspicious, I decided to probe further. I asked, “What is AI?”—a fundamental question. The response I received was eerily precise, almost verbatim from a well-rehearsed script:
[Insert the transcript verbatim or summarized]
To confirm my suspicions, I repeated the question twice more. Each time, the response remained identical down to the last word. At this point, the situation felt surreal. Out of an abundance of caution, I asked a different, unexpected question, but the call abruptly disconnected shortly thereafter.
The Shocking Revelation
Post-interview, I was informed by HR that the real candidate had briefly joined the call at the beginning to introduce themselves. However, after that initial greeting, the AI agent seamlessly took over the session. The virtual appearance of the candidate almost perfectly matched the profile picture on LinkedIn, further complicating the situation.
This incident was a stark reminder of how AI technology is transcending traditional boundaries of recruitment. No longer are we solely dealing with fake resumes or manipulated LinkedIn profiles—now, candidates themselves can be entirely fabricated by AI systems, capable of engaging in conversations that appear convincingly human.
Implications for the Future of Recruiting
This experience underscores a new frontier in hiring—a challenge that requires us to rethink vetting processes and leverage advanced validation techniques. As AI-generated candidates become more sophisticated, organizations must develop strategies to verify authenticity, such as integrated AI detection tools, live coding assessments, or multi-layered interview protocols.
The convergence of AI and recruitment isn’t just a theoretical concern; it’s happening now, bringing us into what I can only describe as the uncanny valley of hiring. As professionals in the field, staying ahead of these developments is crucial to maintaining integrity and trust in the hiring process.
Final Thoughts
The line between human and machine continues to blur, and as AI capabilities grow, so does the complexity of ensuring genuine human interactions in recruitment. My recent experience serves as both a warning and an invitation: to adapt, innovate, and remain vigilant in an era where even the candidate can be a synthetic creation.
Are we prepared for a future where AI impersonates humans in interviews? The answer may dictate how we uphold the authenticity and fairness of hiring processes in the years to come.