From Chatbot to Employee: AI's Next Phase of Work Integration

Last week, I shared how GPT-5 outperformed pre-licensed medical professionals on reasoning tasks by 24%.

This week? Another profession just got outpaced.

A study of 70,000 job applicants found that AI voice agents outperformed human recruiters at conducting first-round interviews. And it wasn't even close.

These aren't just signals for doctors or HR employees.

They're proof points that AI is moving beyond general tools into specialized professional work.

The Results Speak for Themselves

Here are key findings from the AI voice agent job interview experiment:

• Job offers increased by 12% with AI-led interviews vs human recruiters
• Job starts rose 18% (more people showed up for work)
• Retention improved 17% after 30 days
• 78% of candidates chose the AI interviewer when given the option
• Gender discrimination reports nearly halved vs human-led interviews

What else?

Recruiters themselves expected AI would hurt quality and retention, but the data proved them wrong.

We're witnessing the next phase of AI adoption.

The Infrastructure Shift

Last week I said "the infrastructure is being built right now." This is what I meant.

We're evolving beyond chat interfaces and niche productivity tools toward professional-grade applications.

• Purpose-built tools designed for specific roles & industries
• Validated research that measures business outcomes (not just vibes)
• Safety & review systems that make AI usable in high-stakes contexts

Just because AI hasn't been transformational in your org yet, doesn't mean that shift isn't coming.

Reality Check

Here's a dose of reality from Wharton professor Ethan Mollick:

The vibes can say "AI is overrated."

Meanwhile, the numbers say the opposite.

Implications

For job seekers: AI-led hiring may work in your favor. Less bias, better matching, and candidates prefer the experience.

For hiring managers: Your competition may soon have access to recruiting processes that deliver 12-18% better outcomes. Early adopters win.

For any knowledge worker: The pattern isn't random; AI targets workflow-heavy roles first. Look at your daily tasks: how many involve structured evaluation or decision-making?

The Takeaway

AI infrastructure is being built whether you engage with it or not.

Approach AI with flexibility and openness. Experiment. Learn what is working.

Your advantage comes from being ready when it crosses into your domain.

Embracing the technology with curiousity instead resistance.