New York City aims to be first to rein in AI hiring tools

Polli demonstrates AI technology used to assess job skills during an interview with The Associated Press at the Pymetrics headquarters, in New York. — AP

Job candidates rarely know when hidden artificial intelligence tools are rejecting their resumes or analysing their video interviews. But New York City residents could soon get more say over the computers making behind-the-scenes decisions about their careers.

A bill passed by the city council in early November would ban employers from using automated hiring tools unless a yearly bias audit can show they won’t discriminate based on an applicant’s race or gender. It would also force makers of those AI tools to disclose more about their opaque workings and give candidates the option of choosing an alternative process – such as a human – to review their application.