'AI recruiters' refine China's hiring model

Experts and industry insiders say artificial intelligence is reshaping China's human resources services industry by improving interview efficiency and better matching job seekers with openings through the use of "AI recruiters," helping promote higher-quality and fuller employment.

China International Intellectech Group Co, a State-owned company specializing in human resources services, recently announced the activation of its digital human resources services system powered by AI.

In a statement, the company said it has launched an "AI recruiter" named Guangmou, or Glowing Eyes, a digital human that can generate customized interview plans for employers based on candidates' resumes and conduct thorough and objective evaluations of applicants'.

Li Qiang, vice-president of Zhaopin, a recruitment portal that first rolled out its AI interview product in 2019, said AI recruiters represent a major upgrade from traditional recruitment models and are designed to deliver fairer and more efficient hiring experiences.

"AI can help human recruiters process vast amounts of data using unified standards and offer recommendations through multidimensional analysis to assist decision-making," Li said. He added that the data processed by AI systems can become valuable assets, enabling companies to better manage their talent pools.

A report released in January by Nowcoder.com, a Beijing-based education technology company, showed that in 2024, the proportion of companies using AI in recruitment processes increased to 71.5 percent, more than tripling the figures from the previous year.

Li Huiying, 24, who is looking for work in Beijing, said she recently failed an online mock interview conducted by an AI recruiter but was impressed by its speed and precision.

"I prepared for job interviews for about two months, and the AI identified problems in my resume in just one second," she said. "I was completely caught off guard by its questions. Many companies now use AI recruiters, so it's necessary to adapt in advance."

Li Qiang of Zhaopin said AI is also reshaping the human resources services industry by enabling escrow-style recruitment services, customized hiring solutions, talent training and analytical reports on human resource efficiency.

"AI functions more like a digital HR staff member that can execute tasks such as posting job openings, screening resumes, designing interview plans and even conducting interviews," he said. "More employers are seeking tailored solutions from human resources service providers rather than relying on one-size-fits-all recruitment products."

He added that AI is helping employers build their own "talent ecosystems" by providing training programs and efficiency analysis as companies place greater emphasis on talent fit and sustainable career development.

In recent years, the government has encouraged human resources service agencies to upgrade their offerings through the use of cutting-edge technologies such as big data, cloud computing and AI.

Shanghai, for example, issued a notice in September encouraging human resources agencies to pursue AI-driven transformation. The notice called on leading companies and recruitment platforms to develop intelligent recruiting, talent evaluation and training products, and encouraged agencies to improve public services and job matching through AI.

Zhang Wenmiao, director of the human resources flow management department at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said at a recent news conference that human resources are the most critical factor in national socioeconomic development.

"We have supported human resources agencies in adopting big data, cloud computing and AI,"Zhang said. "New service models and technologies, including large recruitment models, AI interviews and virtual reality training, have emerged in recent years, significantly improving the efficiency of talent mobility."

Ministry figures show China has more than 70,000 human resources agencies employing over 1 million people. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the industry provided about 300 million employment-related services annually, including job placement, career consulting and talent mobility management, as well as about 50 million professional support and consultancy services for domestic employers each year.