Chinese state media warns AI could worsen job discrimination and break labour laws

Economic Daily calls on employers to be aware of gender, age and birthplace bias when using artificial intelligence to assess candidates

Beijing aims to use the technology in its economic recovery and counter long-term economic challenges, including a shrinking workforce

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Students attend a campus job fair in the east China city of Huai’an on April 27. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images

Published: 5:57pm, 27 May 2024Updated: 6:25pm, 27 May 2024

Chinese state media have warned that job interviews conducted by AI could worsen gender and age discrimination and violate labour laws as the country seeks to leverage the technology for its economic recovery.

The official Economic Daily on Monday called on employers to be aware of potential risks while using the technology, highlighting that artificial intelligence could have “algorithmic bias and discrimination” when evaluating candidates.

The article said that while AI could make preliminary screening of job candidates more efficient, current algorithms and standards for AI interviews could “hardly fully reflect the complexity and diversity of human behaviour”.

Personal information, such as gender, age and place of birth, might affect the assessment and worsen workplace discrimination, it said.

Government agencies should also take measures to prevent risks and investigate any violations of labour laws with the use of algorithms, it said, noting that a sound regulatory mechanism should be established to prevent the misuse of the technology.

Beijing has eyed AI as a way to help its sluggish economy recover and counter long-term economic challenges, including a shrinking workforce.

China has also sought strict regulatory control over the use of the technology, citing cybersecurity concerns.