Some job seekers are using AI-powered deepfake technology in attempts to land jobs, according to background screening firm Sterling. The tech creates realistic but fake videos and audio of fabricated people alleging to be the job candidate.
Sterling warned that it’s often being used with malicious intentions.
While AI is bringing benefits, there will always be groups that use this innovation for their own unscrupulous purpose, Steve Smith, president of international at Sterling, said in a press release. “Candidates using AI to help with CV writing and job applications is a bit of a grey area that HR, hiring managers, and business leaders are currently trying to navigate,” UK-based Smith said. “However, the more critical component is the rise of very clear applicant fraud that exposes firms to significant risks.”
“Video and audio have historically been deemed as trustworthy methods of verifying that you are speaking to a person and that they are who they say they are,” he continued. “But that’s no longer the case.”
According to Smith, AI is also being used beyond creating deepfakes and synthetic personalities. It’s also being used to generate fraudulent credentials, alter images in official certificates, and mimic official language in documents.
“This makes it increasingly difficult for employers to identify what is genuine and what is fake,” he said. “Screening programs will need to become equally as sophisticated to tackle this issue, but it should be noted that the problem — namely AI — can equally be used as the solution.”