US Federal Government to Deploy AI Screening in Hiring Process

Federal agencies adopt AI screening technology

The US federal government will begin using artificial intelligence to screen and interview job candidates starting this week, marking a significant shift in how the nation's largest employer evaluates potential hires.

The technology will first be deployed through CodeSignal, a technical assessment platform, for the Tech Force initiative—a program launched eight months ago to recruit private-sector technology professionals into two-year government positions. Virtual AI agents will conduct early-round interviews using phone, audio, and text-based formats, with hiring managers receiving transcribed recordings of candidate conversations.

Why it matters

With 1.9 million employees, the federal government has lagged behind private employers in adopting AI screening tools that have become standard practice for large organizations. This pilot represents an effort to modernize a notoriously slow hiring process while addressing workforce aging concerns. The move also signals growing acceptance of AI-assisted decision-making in government operations, though the approach raises questions about algorithmic bias and the loss of human judgment in early candidate evaluation.

Existing AI use in federal HR

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which serves as the government's human resources division, already provides administrative staff access to major AI platforms including Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Google's Gemini on government computers. Earlier this year, OPM began using AI tools to generate job descriptions.

OPM has issued guidance encouraging federal agencies to incorporate AI into hiring processes while maintaining human oversight, particularly for critical personnel decisions.

Addressing workforce challenges

OPM Director Scott Kupor has prioritized making federal hiring more efficient while pushing agency heads to fill at least one-third of new positions with early-career professionals. This focus responds to an aging federal workforce that requires strategic succession planning.

Multiple officials indicated that AI screening tools are likely to become increasingly common across federal hiring processes as agencies seek to accelerate recruitment timelines and compete more effectively with private-sector employers for talent.

The details were first reported by CBS News, citing US government officials.