ZEALS Releases Survey Report on 'AI Interviews': 53% Find It Easier to Speak Honestly to AI Than Humans
ZEALS Co., Ltd. has released a survey report on AI interviews involving 900 respondents. The results show that 67.3% of candidates react positively to AI avatars modeled after CEOs or top employees. Notably, 53.2% of candidates found advanced AI easier to talk to honestly than human interviewers. The report highlights that 'human-likeness' and 'natural dialogue' are crucial factors for a positive candidate experience (CX) in AI-driven recruitment.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 12:40 (8 min after Collected)
ZEALS Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiro Shimizu), operator of the multimodal AI agent platform 'Omakase AI,' has announced the publication of a survey report titled 'AI Interviews Change the Candidate Experience.' The study explored how 'human-likeness' and 'realistic dialogue' in AI interviews impact candidate motivation, corporate understanding, and HR recruitment intentions.
### Survey Overview
- **Theme:** Awareness survey regarding AI interviews
- **Period:** April 5 to April 7, 2026
- **Respondents:** 600 candidates (300 experienced, 300 inexperienced) and 300 HR professionals
- **Key Areas:** Impression of AI interviews, impact on application motivation, issues with existing tools, and expectations for advanced dialogue AI.
### Key Findings
1. **AI modeled after CEOs and ace employees attract candidates:** 67.3% responded favorably to AI avatars recreating specific corporate personalities. This suggests AI can act as an 'attraction point' to convey corporate culture.
2. **Advanced AI vs. Human Interviewers:** 53.2% stated it is easier to speak honestly with highly advanced dialogue AI, surpassing human interviewers (32.8%) by over 20 points.
3. **Issues with existing AI:** Major complaints included 'impersonal and anxiety-inducing' (43.0%) and 'one-way dialogue lacking casual chat' (34.7%).
### Background and Strategic Implications
While AI interviews are widely adopted for efficiency and standardizing evaluations, candidates view interviews as critical touchpoints to judge corporate culture. ZEALS's research indicates that the value of AI interviews depends on creating an environment where candidates feel safe and naturally engaged through human-like interaction. This shift positions AI not just as a screening tool, but as a medium for brand storytelling and candidate engagement.
### Survey Overview
- **Theme:** Awareness survey regarding AI interviews
- **Period:** April 5 to April 7, 2026
- **Respondents:** 600 candidates (300 experienced, 300 inexperienced) and 300 HR professionals
- **Key Areas:** Impression of AI interviews, impact on application motivation, issues with existing tools, and expectations for advanced dialogue AI.
### Key Findings
1. **AI modeled after CEOs and ace employees attract candidates:** 67.3% responded favorably to AI avatars recreating specific corporate personalities. This suggests AI can act as an 'attraction point' to convey corporate culture.
2. **Advanced AI vs. Human Interviewers:** 53.2% stated it is easier to speak honestly with highly advanced dialogue AI, surpassing human interviewers (32.8%) by over 20 points.
3. **Issues with existing AI:** Major complaints included 'impersonal and anxiety-inducing' (43.0%) and 'one-way dialogue lacking casual chat' (34.7%).
### Background and Strategic Implications
While AI interviews are widely adopted for efficiency and standardizing evaluations, candidates view interviews as critical touchpoints to judge corporate culture. ZEALS's research indicates that the value of AI interviews depends on creating an environment where candidates feel safe and naturally engaged through human-like interaction. This shift positions AI not just as a screening tool, but as a medium for brand storytelling and candidate engagement.
FAQ
Why is it easier to speak honestly in an AI interview?
Advanced conversational AI can reduce the pressure of being judged and provide psychological safety, leading 53.2% of candidates to feel more comfortable sharing their true thoughts compared to human interviewers.
What are the common complaints about current AI interviews?
The main issues are their 'mechanical nature' and 'one-way communication.' Candidates desire natural, two-way interaction rather than just answering recorded questions.
How do AI interviews affect candidate interest?
Using AI avatars modeled after CEOs or top employees elicited a positive response from 67.3% of candidates, suggesting they help deepen company understanding and boost interest.