AI for business · Industry guide

👥 AI rules: HR and recruitment

HR is where the AI Act bites hardest for ordinary companies: almost every AI that decides about candidates or employees is high-risk, and emotion recognition at work is banned.

Typical AI uses and their risk level

Minimal
Writing job ads and interview questions with ChatGPT

Minimal risk — but avoid discriminatory wording and do not paste candidates’ data into free tools.

High risk
Screening, filtering or ranking CVs with AI

High risk (Annex III, point 4) from 2 Dec 2027; GDPR Art. 22 and a DPIA already now.

High risk
AI that evaluates performance or allocates tasks and shifts

High risk; consult the works council before introduction.

Prohibited
Analysing candidates’ facial expressions or voice for emotions in video interviews

Prohibited since 2 Feb 2025.

Transparency
An HR chatbot that answers employees’ questions

Must say it is AI; answers on rights and pay must be checked.

What to do

  • Ask vendors whether their tool is high-risk and how it supports human oversight.
  • Tell candidates that AI is used and let a person make the final decision.
  • Run a DPIA and check results for discrimination (gender, age, origin).
  • Consult the works council or trade union before introducing AI monitoring or evaluation.
  • Train HR staff on bias and on explaining decisions.

Common pitfalls

  • “The tool only recommends, a person decides” — if the person always follows the recommendation, it is effectively automated.
  • Using a general chatbot for CV ranking can make you a provider of a high-risk system.
  • Personality tests with AI that infer emotions are prohibited.

Examples

A 40-person company gets 300 applications

Using ChatGPT to summarise each CV is not high-risk by itself; letting it pick the top 10 is. Safer: AI summarises, a person shortlists.

A retailer tracks cashiers’ speed with AI

High risk from Dec 2027 and already now a DPIA, a clear purpose and consultation; ranking people for dismissal would be very risky.

General information, not legal advice — consult a lawyer for borderline cases. Regulations reviewed on 29 Sep 2026.