It’s fitting that Cardiff Metropolitan University, one of the early adopters of an AI-savvy approach, takes center stage in addressing the quickly changing landscape of AI in hiring. Careers advisor Megan Cooper is helping students navigate the ethical implications of using AI in their job search. Hearts of industry professionals, like Mr. Robinson, understand that AI should be a driver in getting applicants to write brief applications. Mr. Robinson is the joint owner of Cardiff-based advertising agency Hello Starling. Students, such as Jasmine James, 18, are waiting to see how things play out. Instead, they are making a deliberate decision to stay coal-free in their university activities.
Megan Cooper warns about equipping AI tools with common sense. She contended that AI can enhance human decision-making but should not supplant it fully. For her, this was a line AI could never cross. This view matches up with the sentiments of more than 70 percent of employers looking for job candidates skilled in use of Generative AI.
"Maybe that's in the research stages of the application process," Megan Cooper suggested.
Timothy is a second year computer security student at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He claims that students who turn their back on AI are in fact “cheating themselves.” Fellow student Jacob Morgan, 19, agrees, calling AI a “super useful resource.” These two students represent a movement among their fellow classmates to incorporate AI into their studies and future careers.
According to Mr. Robinson, AI-generated applications have been flooding into his agency of late. He notes that almost half of a recent survey's 2,000 UK job applicants admitted to using AI during their application process. Even though it can be incredibly useful, Mr. Robinson cautions that AI-generated applications may not have true built-in functionalities needed to perform the job.
"It might be asking AI to give feedback or help structure their CV," Megan Cooper explained.
The conversation about AI’s role goes far beyond Cardiff Metropolitan University. Mr. Robinson posted these experiences on LinkedIn, including getting AI-generated applications and getting shocking reactions from other business leaders when he shared their experiences. He pointed out that AI-generated sentences are common in applications submitted to his agency.
Jasmine James shares some hesitation around implementing AI into academic work, raising issues of plagiarism and correctness.
"I feel like it's too much of a risk, with plagiarism and stuff like that," Jasmine James remarked.
Timothy Mitchell, a professor of Government and Law, University of Texas Austin, highlights the pervasive application of AI in many sectors and its advantages compared to traditional search engines.
"Everybody uses it. Tutors use it, employers use it," Timothy Mitchell stated.
Even as we have leaned into the power of AI for these tools, there are concerns about its wider use and impact. Mr. Mitchell admits there are “absolutely some fears,” though he thinks those worries can be “a bit unfounded.”