Microsoft owned LinkedIn has launched its newest AI tool, the Hiring Assistant, tailored to reduce repetitive recruiting tasks like shortlisting candidates and drafting initial outreach messages. Available first to a few select companies, including AMD, Canva, Siemens, and Zurich Insurance, this AI-driven assistant eases hiring by matching job descriptions with qualified candidates based on LinkedIn’s extensive user profiles. LinkedIn plans to expand access to more recruiters in the near future.
AI-Powered LinkedIn Automation Expansion
The Hiring Assistant builds on LinkedIn’s earlier integrations with OpenAI’s GPT models. Since March 2023, LinkedIn has used GPT-4 to help users personalize profiles with more engaging “About” and “Headline” sections, aimed at highlighting specific skills and experience. To assist with recruitment posts, LinkedIn still relies on GPT-3.5, a previous version of OpenAI’s model, to generate clear, targeted job descriptions. Together, these tools save users time and help recruiters attract well-suited candidates.
GPT-4 offers more nuanced, context-aware suggestions than earlier models like GPT-3.5. For LinkedIn, GPT-4 optimizes profile creation by tailoring content closely to user experience, while GPT-3.5, though effective for text generation, is directed at crafting role-specific job descriptions.
AI-Powered InMail Messages Boost Engagement
In May 2023 last year, LinkedIn introduced a new messaging tool that drafts InMail messages for Premium users, aimed at easing communication with potential employers. This feature pulls from job listings and user profiles to create draft messages that job seekers can tweak before sending. LinkedIn reports that these AI-drafted messages have led to a 45% increase in response rates compared to manually written InMails, which is encouraging for recruiters aiming to improve engagement rates.
The tool also helps candidates facing writer’s block or uncertainty about how to approach employers. However, some users expressed concern about the ethical implications of AI-generated messages in job applications, specifically around transparency.
AI Chatbot for Job Suitability Insights
In November 2023, LinkedIn launched an AI chatbot for Premium users, designed to help job seekers gauge their fit for specific roles. Users can initiate the bot by choosing prompts like “Am I a good fit for this job?” or “How can I best position myself?” and receive tailored feedback based on their profile. LinkedIn’s VP of Product Engineering, Erran Berger, explained that LinkedIn optimized its backend to reduce response latency and ensure the bot’s speed.
Unlike simpler chatbots, LinkedIn’s tool uses AI to interpret both job requirements and user profile data, offering insights tailored to the specific job. This feature helps users who may not have direct access to recruiters make better-informed decisions on job suitability.
Privacy Concerns and New Data Usage Policies
This September LinkedIn updated its privacy policy, sparking controversy by permitting the use of user data to train its AI models. Under the new policy, users’ content can be used to improve generative AI, but those in the European Economic Area and Switzerland are exempt due to stricter privacy regulations. Users outside these regions can opt out by navigating to “Data for Generative AI Improvement” in their settings, though it’s activated by default.
Blake Lawit, LinkedIn’s SVP and General Counsel, framed the update as part of LinkedIn’s trust and safety initiative, adding that personal information is masked or anonymized to mitigate privacy risks. Yet, many users felt that this opt-out approach falls short, expressing concerns over data use and transparency on social media platforms.
Microsoft’s AI Strategy and LinkedIn’s Development Path
Since investing heavily in OpenAI, Microsoft has rapidly advanced AI integrations across LinkedIn. From profile-building tools to the Hiring Assistant, these AI features stem from Microsoft’s commitment to embedding generative AI in its platforms. Through these enhancements, LinkedIn aims to make job matching faster and more precise while providing practical tools for users managing profiles, recruitment posts, and candidate communications.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:17 pm CET