A lawsuit says Workday's AI shut out applicants over 40 (san.com)

A collective-action lawsuit has been filed against Workday, a major HR services provider, alleging that its AI hiring algorithms discriminated against applicants over 40, as well as those who are Black, disabled, or female. The case centers around Derek Mobley, a 40-something, Black IT professional, who claims the system consistently filtered out his applications based on inferences about his age and race, stemming from college attendance and assessments revealing personal attributes. The plaintiffs seek damages and a court ruling to halt the alleged discriminatory use of AI in hiring practices, potentially affecting millions due to Workday's significant market share. The case is critical for the AI/ML community as it addresses the ethical implications of AI in recruitment and the potential for technology to perpetuate biases. While Workday refutes the allegations, arguing that its tools are designed to prioritize human decision-making without factoring in protected characteristics, the lawsuit raises essential questions about accountability in AI systems deployed for hiring. With the increasing reliance on AI in recruitment processes, this lawsuit could set significant precedents regarding the fairness and transparency of such technologies.