How we're championing responsible AI in HR Tech
At Indeed, we believe AI is a powerful tool that, when used responsibly, can open doors and transform lives. We recognize that hiring is a fundamentally human process, so we don’t just innovate for the sake of technology—we innovate for people. Our commitment is to ensure that AI amplifies human potential by prioritizing fairness, equity, and transparency as we strive to reduce inequalities in hiring. We aim to build trust by listening, learning, and continuously improving, all while ensuring our AI serves its true purpose: to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse workforce by helping millions of people from all walks of life find jobs.
Indeed’s responsible AI principles
In 2020, Indeed publicly stated its commitment to fairness in its use of algorithms. Since then, the world has witnessed many rapid developments in AI. As such, we are excited to release our principles for the responsible and beneficial use of AI at Indeed. We will continue to approach these issues with an open mind and a desire to learn and improve, with the goal of helping our users find meaningful employment.
Job seeker first. Indeed’s mission is to help people get jobs. We work hard to open access to opportunities for all job seekers. The development, management, and use of AI are guided by our mission and this principle above all others.
Center fairness and equity. Talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Without proper care, the biases and barriers that job seekers face can be reinforced or amplified at the scale that AI enables. Appropriate controls and oversight, including complying with Indeed’s privacy policy, are essential to the success of AI systems and important for the protection of the people who depend on Indeed to find meaningful employment. We are committed to fairness and equity in our products, to building products that enable job seekers to benefit from AI, and to building a team that is diverse and representative of job seekers.
Listen and learn. A commitment to fairness and equity requires nuance, expertise, and commitment. These concepts are highly contextual and vary within and between cultures. There is no single or settled definition of fairness or equity. We use data, both quantitative and qualitative, to rigorously evaluate our products’ fairness from initial design onward. We incorporate the lived experiences of job seekers. We know that learning is a journey and that this work is never done.
Hiring is human. AI provides exciting opportunities to augment, assist, and support people in doing their best work. However, hiring is a fundamentally human process, and humans will always have vital roles to play in job seeking and hiring. Decisions about jobs and hiring are among the most important in peoples’ lives, and we want to preserve the human element in those decisions while continuing to improve and simplify the experience of finding the right job or candidate.
Innovate responsibly. The rapid development of AI has opened many exciting new doors for job seekers and employers. However, embracing these developments responsibly will require care, consideration, and clear-eyed assessment. It’s important that we work to make these systems accountable for the outcomes, transparent in clear and simple ways how they impact people, and well-governed with robust security and safety described in Indeed Safety, ensuring they respect human rights and carefully considering the risks and potential benefits that they may bring. Additionally, they should respect human rights while carefully considering both the risks and potential benefits they may bring. We welcome open dialogue about the uses of AI in the job-seeking, advertising, and hiring space.
Responsible AI at Indeed
Indeed’s cross-functional Responsible AI team builds tools, systems, and processes that advance responsible and inclusive technology. Team members contribute to the development of machine learning and artificial intelligence systems, from responsible design to ongoing monitoring of models.
We aim to advocate for industry-wide action and embed best practices across the HR tech industry, beginning with tools for teams throughout Indeed. So far, we’ve participated in workshops with other industry leaders to discuss best practices and ethical technology. We’ve also engaged with policymakers on legislative and regulatory proposals around AI, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework, which many feel will be the basis for future legislative and regulatory guidance. And we’re just getting started.
We’re continuing to monitor global best practices, so as to help job seekers everywhere gain equal access to opportunity.
