First job interview: the candidate connects via videoconference, perhaps from home, and discovers that the personnel recruitment officer looks like a video game character. He is called Algho, he looks like a 3d avatar with human features, but in reality it is the interactive element of an artificial intelligence platform developed by the Sienese Questit. “It is a technology that in this declination allows to automate some processes related to the world human resources (hr) “, explains Ernesto Di Iorio, CEO of the company.” An artificial intelligence that in the role of virtual assistant is able to communicate with the user in the most human and empathic way possible. It is not to be confused with a human being however, it is evident that it is an avatar “.
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One might wonder why a tool of this type should be used and the answer is simply in efficiency: it is assumed that it can do a job of screening candidates reducing working times. According to a recent McKinsey survey, 90% of European and US personnel managers are convinced that there will be a revolution in the sector in the next two or three years. Not only. Another Eightfold AI survey involving referrals from large US companies revealed that 60% of HR departments already use artificial intelligence technologies for talent management, rating and matching candidates to roles, personalizing the candidate experience, answering questions via chatbots and other activities. Within the next four years, the percentage will rise to 82% (+ 37% on 2021), at least in large companies.
Algho will not replace the recruiters
“This tool doesn’t completely replace recruiters but it helps them get some sort of ranking of the best candidates. A sort of pre-selection that can be done in a very short time “, Di Iorio underlines.” Algho could interview thousands of people at the same time without losing speed “.
It should be noted, however, that it is a conversational intelligence platform that integrates proprietary cognitive technologies from Google, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM. In practice it interacts with the user verbally and non-verbally, so it has the ability to transmit and detect movements and moods. To do this, it uses technologies for verbal recognition, natural language processing, semantic analysis, computer vision and emotion analysis. Obviously he needs the candidate to have a webcam and microphone.
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By means of a process of intent recognition based on techniques of machine learning e information retrieval identifies the most relevant answers and improves over time thanks to a process of reinforcement learning. In summary, with the experience in the field it becomes more and more accurate. “It is also able to set appointments automatically, organize calls, provide links via e-mail and finally draw up the final document for the client. The result is not only a sort of ranking of candidates but also a score related to every single one “, explains the CEO.
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Communication and empathy
Ernesto Di Iorio argues that an avatar generates less discomfort than a person: “Candidates tend to have a less constructed image. They are more natural.” In short, it is as if one felt less under scrutiny. But Algho does the exam and how it detects emotional reactions based on the studies of Paul Ekman, who was the pioneer ofanalysis of microexpressions. He was also inspired by the series Lie to Me, where the protagonist is an expert in kinesics, proxemics and semiotics capable of solving criminal investigations and cases by sounding the expressions of the suspects.
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The AI therefore perceives joy, sadness, anger, surprise, fear and disgustnot counting the level of attention declined in three levels. The candidate’s answers combined with these variables and the parameters established by the client produce a score. And so on a hypothetical list of a thousand candidates, a ranking is obtained that allows the (human) employees to search for personnel to set priority appointments with the best.
Of course, the spectrum of the risk of discrimination remains, which is one of the weaknesses of some databases on which some AI are based, but it is also true that an adequate counterbalance can be implemented by updating each requirement.
“The parameters established by the client are fundamental because they condition the final result and therefore similar answers could produce different ranking results. The AI implements a sort of profiling in relation to the interaction, the type of character, soft skill in short “, points out the expert.
To date, among the first customers there are large temporary agencies who, thanks to artificial intelligence, are also able to sift through large quantities of resumes and scan social networks to find candidates. If we talk about companies, on the other hand, the first Italian companies that chose Algho are linked to the world of large distribution and food production.
Not just headhunting
Questit was born in 2007 as a spin-off of the research group in artificial intelligence of Professor Marco Gori of the University of Siena. The goal has always been to exploit unstructured data to extract useful information for business processes.
In 2017 it was acquired by the Digital Box specialist which develops AI solutions for marketing, communication and services dedicated to businesses. Then in 2019 the information technology giant Exprivia entered the capital and in 2020 Readytec also entered the capital, which develops management software for companies and professional firms.
These expanded partnerships have made it possible to apply artificial intelligence in multiple campsthe. Not only for personnel research but also in the insurance, public administration, banking, customer care and marketing sectors. In some cases Algho shows himself as an avatar in others he hides behind a chatbot. And so you can get assistance or information, report a claim, send estimates, manage billing, integrate home banking services, etc.
“It can also enable a voice-commerce where the consumer is guided towards the purchase or stimulated to go to the store and then find our totem with the same avatar known online”, concludes Di Iorio. “Artificial intelligence accompanies, amplifies the potential, speeds up operations. But obviously it does not completely replace humans”.