AI is on a rapid rise in the recruitment world. LinkedIn recently launched the Hiring Assistant, an AI tool that supports recruiters in intake, search, and outreach. Useful, but the introduction also raises a bigger question: will AI enhance or replace recruiters?

LinkedIn Hiring Assistant as an example

The LinkedIn Hiring Assistant shows how quickly technology is evolving. The tool:

• poses smart intake questions and creates a sourcing plan

• automatically searches and selects candidates from the LinkedIn database

• compares profiles based on skills and experience

• even writes personalized InMails and sets screening questions

For recruiters, this means less repetitive work and more time for personal contact. But if AI can take over so much, what is left of the added value of the recruiter?

AI as a colleague

You can see AI as an extra colleague that is available 24/7. It handles the preliminary work, allowing you to make strategic decisions and engage in conversations with candidates. In a tight labor market, this can make all the difference: quicker responses and better matches.

AI as a competitor

At the same time, it is concerning. As AI automates more tasks, what is left for the recruiter? Companies that only look at costs might think that AI makes part of the human role redundant. Moreover, AI comes with risks:

• Bias and ethics: algorithms are not neutral and can reinforce existing inequalities

• Language and context: the tool currently only works in English

• Dependence on data: poor input will still lead to poor output

The future of recruitment

What is clear is that the future of recruitment is not black and white. AI is neither fully a colleague nor a complete competitor. It is a tool that reshapes the role of recruiters:

• From investigator to strategist: recruiters need to search less and direct more

• Candidate experience as a differentiation: technology ensures efficiency, but human authenticity remains crucial

• Critical role: recruiters become guardians of ethics, diversity, and the human connection

Conclusion

The arrival of the LinkedIn Hiring Assistant is a signal of what is to come. AI is profoundly changing recruitment, but the question remains: do you embrace AI as a colleague, or do you see it as a competitor? Likely the answer is a combination of both.

At Spadework, we believe that the real value lies in balance. AI can accelerate work, but the human factor ultimately determines success. Curious about how this translates into practice? Book a demo with Lucas and find out.