Artificial intelligence has so far only played a minor role in German personnel searches

Artificial intelligence has so far only played a minor role in personnel searches in Germany. Only 12 percent of companies use AI in the application process. This emerges from a representative survey of 602 companies commissioned by the digital association Bitkom, which is available exclusively to WELT AM SONNTAG.

AI is most often used to create job advertisements. Nine percent of companies are already using corresponding applications. Six percent use AI for the first screening of incoming applications. Five percent work with AI-based competence or potential analyses.

This refers to the classification as a “high-risk area” from the EU AI regulation, which applies wherever an AI system has a say in professional access. Annex III of the EU AI Act explicitly mentions the targeted display of job advertisements, the evaluation and filtering of applications and the evaluation of candidates in interviews or assessments. The threshold is low. Systems that are only intended to provide support are also included as soon as they influence personnel decisions.

The companies that use such software must operate the systems according to instructions, assign trained staff for human supervision, keep operational logs, involve the works council and inform applicants that AI was involved in the process. Violations result in a fine of 15 to 35 million euros or three to seven percent of global annual turnover. “Coping with that is challenging,” said Holdampf-Wendel.

At the same time, many companies see potential for the technology. 59 percent can imagine using AI to create job advertisements. More than a third (34 percent) can imagine AI-supported skills or potential analyzes and 27 percent can imagine using them when viewing applications for the first time.

Hendrikje Rudnick is a business editor and leads the editorial team at BUSINESS INSIDER. She reports on the topics of management and leadership, career planning, artificial intelligence and the German job market.