6th November 2024
The BIAS project invites companies and individuals from 15 countries to contribute anonymized cover letters and CVs to help researchers identify and mitigate AI bias, advancing a fairer job market.
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly central to hiring processes worldwide, concerns about its potential for bias have intensified. The EU-funded BIAS project is launching a research initiative aimed at reducing biases in AI hiring systems, particularly those using Natural Language Processing (NLP). The project invites companies and individuals from 15 countries to support this work by contributing anonymized samples of cover letters and CVs.
Addressing bias in AI-driven hiring
Recent research has highlighted the risk of bias in AI hiring systems, where algorithms may favour or discriminate against candidates based on factors such as wording choices or demographic indicators. The BIAS project’s mission is to assess how specific language patterns may contribute to these biases and to develop tools that make AI in hiring fairer and more inclusive.
With NLP being a fundamental technology in many AI hiring systems, the project’s findings could have a significant impact on how companies structure and use automated tools to evaluate applicants. By better understanding these biases, the BIAS Project hopes to support ethical AI development in recruitment processes.
How companies can contribute
The BIAS project is calling on companies in participating countries to share anonymized versions of cover letters and CVs from recent hiring processes. This data will help researchers identify patterns that contribute to bias, enabling the development of tools to help reduce these effects in the future.
Participating companies will receive a report detailing the project’s findings, providing insights into their data and highlighting the company’s role in advancing workplace diversity. Partnering companies will also be featured in project communications, recognizing their support for ethical AI practices.
Companies should contact info@biasproject.eu to learn how to donate their company’s cover letters and CVs.
For individuals: How personal data can support fairer hiring
The BIAS project is also inviting individual jobseekers to submit anonymized copies of their own cover letters and CVs. By providing personal application documents, individuals can play a vital role in helping researchers understand the impacts of specific language choices on AI-driven hiring.
Individuals can donate their data here.
Participating countries
The BIAS project welcomes contributions from Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Submissions will be accepted until January 31, 2025.
