Charles Esther
AI-powered video interviews are becoming increasingly common as companies look for ways to automate and streamline the early stages of hiring.
Social media, however, is painting a creepier picture.
TikTok users have recently posted clips of AI bots malfunctioning during job interviews.
These clips have gained massive attention, but experts say they are likely dramatized or isolated cases.
TikTok Users Report Glitching Bots During Job Interviews
One TikTok user named Freddie posted a video on May 3 showing an AI assistant named “Catherine Appleton” glitching mid-interview.
The bot began spewing gibberish, and the video quickly went viral, racking up 8.8 million views by Thursday.
In the caption, Freddie wrote, “Should I email them? I was expecting a real human.”
Another TikTok user named Ken posted a video where her interview bot eerily repeated the phrase “vertical bar pilates” in a loop.
Neither Freddie nor Ken responded to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Experts Say These Glitches Are Rare or Staged
Despite the creepy nature of these clips, experts assure job seekers that these situations are not the norm.
Sriram Iyer, an adjunct senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore Business School, said these glitches are likely rare or even doctored.
“They should not be considered a common phenomenon,” he explained.
Tan Hong Ming, a senior lecturer and deputy head at NUS Business School, echoed this view.
He said social media tends to amplify rare events through repetition and viral sharing.
Tan, who also advises an AI recruitment firm, believes the clips are likely dramatized to gain engagement and shares.
He noted that although he hasn’t seen this specific glitch, occasional breakdowns do happen.
Many AI tools used in recruitment are built on similar APIs, some of which may not be the most stable versions.
This can result in recurring technical issues across platforms.
Data and Rapid Deployment Can Affect AI Interview Quality
Unaizah Obaidellah, a senior AI lecturer at the University of Malaya, noted that glitches can also arise from poor training data.
If bots aren’t trained with enough relevant examples, their performance can suffer.
She warned that the race to deploy AI rapidly, without sufficient safeguards, is “quite worrying.”
AI-Powered Interviews Are Becoming More Common
Emily DeJeu, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, believes AI video interviews will continue to grow.
She noted that companies are drawn to AI because it saves time and money.
“There’s a kind of inevitability to it,” she said.
Despite the concerns raised by viral TikToks, Iyer noted that many candidates are not completely put off by AI bots.
What to Do If Your AI Interview Bot Glitches
While glitches are rare, they can still undermine the candidate experience.
Tan explained that technical issues can make the hiring process feel unfair or impersonal, especially if companies don’t inform candidates about AI involvement.
He stressed the importance of having fallback options and real-time monitoring.
Otherwise, what seems like a time-saving measure could evolve into a systemic issue.
Candidates should remain calm if they experience a glitch.
Tan suggests taking a screenshot or video recording of the incident and emailing the hiring manager.
Most companies should offer a redo of the interview.
Unaizah added that candidates should request feedback from the HR team.
If the interview was not properly assessed — or if it wasn’t reviewed by a human — they can ask for an in-person interview.
“If all fails or your gut feeling says otherwise, perhaps it’s best to look for other companies,” she said.
She recommended targeting employers who emphasize human-centered hiring processes.
