AI resume screening is an automated hiring technology that uses algorithms based on machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to assess, rank, and filter job applications before human review. The screening is meant to compare resumes and applications against job requirements.
Because they are trained on data that reflects ingrained societal biases, these tools may be unintentionally discriminatory. This can result in “groupthink”, defined by ScienceDirect as “a flawed decision-making process in which groups prioritize consensus over the careful evaluation of alternative options.” In August 2025, McKinney Law Firm, P.C. reported that a federal court ordered a major HR software company to turn over their list of all employers that used its AI tool to screen job applicants, claiming it automatically rejected qualified candidates over 40.
Following are some lesser-known “tells” you may not have considered.