{
  "id": 1651144,
  "title": "The Guardian view on the changed world of job interviews: missing the human factor | Editorial",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/the-guardian-view-on-the-changed-world-of-job-interviews-missing-the",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-16T17:30:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/16/the-guardian-view-on-the-changed-world-of-job-interviews-missing-the-human-factor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Guardian's critics of Zoom interviews extend beyond the digital realm, permeating the hiring process as AI increasingly plays a role. Roughly 45% of UK jobseekers have encountered an AI bot during their job applications, leading to many quitting in frustration. A recent article in the Guardian echoed the sentiment of a former applicant who decried the process as overly mechanized, questioning whether the individuals hired were merely the best at manipulating the system.\n\nFor young job seekers, this mechanization can be alienating and disheartening, as repeated rejections occur without any human interaction. Andy Burnham's recent comments on an employment-focused podcast highlight his concerns about the harsh nature of the job-seeking environment for young people. The former Labour leader described the use of Zoom and Microsoft Teams interviews as harsh, questioning whether candidates can genuinely showcase their personal qualities without a face-to-face meeting.\n\nBurnham's critique raises valid concerns about the diminishing human factor in job interviews. As AI becomes more prevalent in the hiring process, the ability for applicants to connect on a personal level is at risk. It is crucial to consider how these changes impact the overall recruitment process and whether they are truly benefiting both employers and job seekers.",
  "summary": "Andy Burnham’s doubts about Zoom interviews apply more widely to a hiring process being transformed by AI Almost half of UK jobseekers have found themselves pitching to an AI bot, according to recent research , leading many to give up in frustration. As one despairing applicant lamented in the pages of the Guardian a few months ago: “The hiring process has become so mechanised, both figuratively…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}