hijob’s AI was trained with publicly available data as well as data collected by the company itself in the course of its activity. Sources include business networks, CV databases and social media.
AI Without Bias
Tillmann and his team handle the sensitive topic of data security with care. hijob has hired a lawyer for IT and media law with a focus on GDPR as their data protection officer. Clear guidelines were established back in 2015 when hijob, one of the first HR companies in the DACH region to develop AI models, was founded. These guidelines are still in place today.
“It was clear to us that AI had to be free of bias. By this, we mean that several dimensions, such as gender, age and ethnicity, are eliminated from the AI’s training data. We focus only on skills and professional experiences,” explains Tillmann on the sensitive topic. “The data used comes exclusively from public profiles and people who have agreed to hijob’s data protection policy. Resumes are very sensitive data, so we always separate them from personal data to avoid any conclusions about individuals.” However, Tillmann is confident that, in the future, more data will be shared in the interest of transparency and predictability: “Technology is not an end in itself – when users understand that data leads to a greater understanding of the overall situation, they may be willing to contribute.”
VEGA: HR Analyses at the Push of a Button
hijob’s new software, the HR AI VEGA, has been added to the company’s offering since July 2024. It is an AI tailored to human resources, allowing users to understand their market environment better. “HR departments often clash with other departments in a company and are not taken seriously enough, facing pressure to justify themselves. VEGA builds bridges and provides data on the number of skills and career trajectories of potential candidates. This allows budgets to be optimized and priorities set based on facts.” VEGA was designed for direct use by companies, which, with minimal input, receive comprehensive answers and analyses to their questions autonomously.
Webinar Tage – Automation Gives Time for Human Interaction
On September 18th at 2:15 p.m., Mr. Tillmann will hold a webinar on “Technology and Humanity: Can an HR AI Be Humanistic?”. He deliberately worded the title provocatively because, in his view, many fears are stoked regarding AI: “I believe that our HR AI is indeed humanistic. It’s about allowing people to make the most of their potential. Our AI helps with that. Thanks to its insights, companies look beyond a resume’s surface. The AI also suggests profiles of individuals who, according to the algorithm, will develop into a certain role in the coming months. Such talents typically stay in their position for long when given the chance to showcase and grow their potential.”
However, humans should continue to question the statements of AI and should never blindly surrender to technology. “The AI only shows possibilities; it doesn’t make the decision,” explains Tillmann. The recruiting expert encourages employers to engage more with people, spurred by the AI’s suggestions. Automation and technology provide the time for this: “People don’t like talking to people and hide behind a lack of time. Yet, it is still important to talk to and engage with one another individually. Everyone deserves to understand where their skills are welcomed, and human resources in general need to become more human – also with the help of AI.”
A Look into the Future of Humans and AI
Tillmann is convinced that AI will massively change the world: “We as a society and every employee must ask ourselves what role we want to play when many things are automated.”
For the Webinar Tage, René Tillmann hopes that the participants will recognize the added value of VEGA, as he has already experienced with many of his customers. However, if the opposite is the case, then the AI expert is happy about constructive criticism and a lively exchange with a lot of humanity.
In the meantime, those interested can get to know the expert on AI and the world of work as a podcast host in his podcast Helden der Arbeit (Heroes of Work).
This article is written By Lydia Stöflmayr.
