Topgrading’s VP, Andy Williams, recently hosted a thought leadership session titled Inside the AI Hiring Revolution - and trust me, if you care about hiring the right people, you’ll want to learn what he had to say.
Andy’s not one to sugarcoat things - especially when it comes to hiring. With over 25 years in talent acquisition under his belt, he’s led recruiting at a Best Places to Work SMB, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Kaiser Permanente, where he first encountered Topgrading more than two decades ago. He’s also founded a staffing firm, consulted across industries, and was an original member of LinkedIn’s Advisory Board. Oh, and he’s been a two-time finalist for HireVue’s Disruptor Award for shaking up how businesses think about hiring.
What Andy Had to Say
Andy’s core message? AI is helpful - but it’s not enough. It can automate tasks, surface resumes, and even predict potential. But it can’t uncover the truth about who someone really is, what motivates them, or whether they’ll thrive in your company.
And the biggest risk? Candidates today know how to game the system. AI-enhanced resumes, ChatGPT-generated cover letters, rehearsed responses… the polish is real. But as Andy put it, polish doesn’t equal performance.
So, What’s the Real Risk?
Without a solid hiring process behind your AI, you’re just making bad decisions faster.
Andy broke it down in four key areas:
- AI & the Candidate Experience – the good, the bad, and the weird.
- The Hype and Hidden Bias – AI isn’t neutral.
- Generative vs. Agentic AI – know the difference or pay the price.
- Security and Compliance Pitfalls – because lawsuits aren't a great hiring outcome.
The Takeaway
You can’t skip the fundamentals. If you want A Players, you need real interviews, real reference checks, and a hiring process that actually gets to the truth. AI should support your hiring process - not replace the parts that matter most.
🎥 Want to hear it from Andy himself?
Watch the full session: Inside the AI Hiring Revolution: A Thought Leadership Presentation by Andy Williams.
We regularly host thought leadership presentations just like this one.
If you’d like to stay up to date on upcoming sessions - and get access to our latest hiring insights and marketing updates - click here to join our email list.
Topgrading can help you hire honest, high performers. Contact us.
Dr. Brad Smart is Founder and CEO of Topgrading, Inc. Topgrading is dedicated to helping companies of all sizes maximize the hiring of high performers. Topgrading assesses candidates for senior positions (where the costs of hiring mistakes are high) and trains all managers to create teams of almost all high performers. Brad has seven published books on hiring; the most recent three (the first, second, and third editions of Topgrading) were all best sellers.
To learn more, download our free eGuide.
Improve your hiring success with Topgrading. Our proven hiring process will transform your selection methodology so that you get better hiring results across all industries, including hiring HR professionals. Our leadership and candidate assessment tools will help you assess, hire, retain, and grow outstanding team members. Contact us to learn more!
