Victoria

 

AI in Recruitment: Risks of Discrimination

Date

From: Wednesday February 26, 2025, 5:30 pm

To: Wednesday February 26, 2025, 7:00 pm

AI in Recruitment: Risks of Discrimination

Computer systems driven by artificial intelligence ('AI') are used by employers every day to screen and shortlist job applicants. Despite this, substantial gaps exist in our understanding of how these systems are used in practice and the real, as opposed to theoretical, risks of discrimination when they are deployed.

This presentation reports on findings from qualitative empirical research investigating the use of AI hiring systems by Australian employers. It demonstrates that the way these systems are operated in practice creates serious risks of algorithm-facilitated discrimination. This may arise from the training data, the use of proxies, the system’s implementation, the construction of new structural barriers, a failure to provide reasonable adjustments and/or the facilitation of an intention to discriminate.

These findings are significant. There is a lot at stake when AI hiring systems are used by employers. As one research participant acknowledged, a ‘job application is literally a person’s attempt to change their life with a new job’.

About the Speaker

Dr Natalie Sheard is a lawyer and McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Melbourne with expertise in discrimination by AI systems, particularly those used in recruitment. Dr Sheard's work investigates how, when and where such discrimination may occur, its impacts and the adequacy of existing Australian and international legal responses. In 2024, Dr Sheard won the prestigious Nancy Millis Medal awarded for doctoral theses of exceptional merit. 

Dr Sheard also has significant experience as a social justice lawyer, in digital innovation to increase access to justice and in law reform and policy development. She is a member of the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group and the digital equality group of the Berkeley Center for Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law.


Event Details

Date: Wednesday 26 February 2025
Time: 6pm and runs until approximately 7pm. Attendees welcome to arrive from 5:30pm to enjoy drinks downstairs (at own cost)
Cost: Free for members / $10 for non-members
Venue: The Kelvin Club, 14-30 Melbourne Pl, Melbourne VIC 3000

If you are not yet an ESA VIC member, this event is an opportunity for you to become a member to enjoy discounted rates on this and  other events and access to other free events throughout the year. You can become a member here.

We look forward to welcoming you to this event, 

ESA VIC Branch 

 

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Venue

The Kelvin Club

14-30 Melbourne Place, Melbourne VIC 3000


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