One in five hiring decision-makers in the US and the UK now use artificial intelligence agents to conduct job interviews, according to a 2025 survey. The research, commissioned by talent-assessment platform TestGorilla, surveyed 1,084 professionals responsible for hiring.
The trend is most prevalent among large organisations with high-volume recruitment needs and mature startups aiming to scale operations rapidly. These companies are often inundated with applications, a situation exacerbated by job seekers using AI tools to apply for multiple roles simultaneously and a competitive labour market.
The Rise of the Automated Interview
Forget the small talk; candidates may now find themselves being screened by a recruiter that doesn't blink. The AI agents, sometimes referred to as bots, lead the interview process, asking questions and analysing responses. This represents a fundamental change in the initial stages of candidate evaluation for a growing segment of the market.
"Employers using AI agents to conduct job interviews are often large organizations with high-volume hiring needs, as well as mature startups looking to scale quickly," the survey analysis states. The technology is seen as a tool to manage application overload efficiently.
Drivers Behind the Automated Shift
The adoption of AI interviewers is partly a response to new challenges in talent acquisition. The widespread use of generative AI by job seekers allows for the mass application to openings, creating unprecedented volumes of candidates for recruiters to sift through.
This, combined with a persistently tight job market in many sectors, has pushed companies to seek scalable, consistent, and time-efficient methods for initial candidate screening. Automated interviews promise a standardised approach, free from human bias or fatigue, though they raise new questions about candidate experience and the nuances of human interaction.
Industry Response and Candidate Experience
Business Insider, which reported on the survey, is seeking feedback from individuals who have undergone an AI-led job interview. The publication has asked candidates to share their experiences with this emerging hiring method.
As the practice grows, its impact on the hiring landscape and the psychological effect on applicants—who must perform for an algorithm rather than a person—remains a key area for observation. The long-term effectiveness of such tools in identifying the best talent compared to traditional methods is yet to be fully determined.