UK job seekers lament menace of unnatural AI Interviews

Applicants in the UK job market are lamenting a rise in Artificial Intelligence-prompted interviews that remove the human element, with a corresponding impact on the number of successful interviews.

A survey conducted by hiring platform Greenhouse revealed that nearly half (47%) of UK job seekers have had an AI interview. The survey further revealed that among about 2,950 active job seekers, including 1,132 UK-based workers, plus respondents from the US, Germany, Australia and Ireland. 30% of this survey group had walked away from a hiring process because it included an AI interview.

Job seekers reported feelings of humiliation and uncertainty after an AI interview, admitting they missed the human element.

Speaking to the Guardian, Thomas, a university student in the North of England, stated that the rampant use of AI interview sessions was a bit frustrating and was killing the job market.

“Most companies do faceless interviews, where you are given a prerecorded video of someone asking a question, followed by up to two minutes to plan a response, followed by three minutes to give your answer,” he says. “These are the worst of the three tests, as it feels strange talking into a camera, and it can be difficult to speak naturally. You can’t see anyone other than yourself.

“It doesn’t feel real, it’s like you’re looking into a mirror and speaking to yourself. There’s no human interaction. If you had an in-person interview, you’d be able to see how someone’s reacting and that they’re acknowledging what you say.” He added. Thomas revealed that most of these interviews last 10 minutes, and the longest he has ever witnessed lasted half an hour.

David, a marketing consultant living in Spain, added to the conversation, saying that his AI interview was quite dreadful and horrible for his autistic brain.

“What followed was awkward to say the least,” he says of the 20-minute process. I struggled immediately. I spoke in bullet points and keywords. The real me, who would take his time to understand the actual challenge and constraints of a project, would never deliver like that. In my line of work, there are always questions to ask before any solution can have merit. It’s a two-way thing and always will be.”David added.

The AI scourge in the hiring market has made the headlines recently, with job seekers complaining of automated processes that rule out applications based on algorithms.

The risk of AI replacing entry-level roles in Human Resources and other departments is quite high, but concerns about accuracy and ethics keep AI enthusiasts in check.

Last updated: May 1, 2026