Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI (ChatGPT) and Automation over the past year have evolved at a rapid pace. To gain a deeper understanding and the future evolution of AI’s role in the executive search process, Clockwork surveyed 179 executive search firms across the globe over a 6 week period at the end of 2023. The purpose of the survey was to identify key areas of opportunity for AI to support the search process, and gather insights around market demand for future growth for AI. This is an excerpt below on A.I.'s impact on a search closeout within the executive search process.

62.3% of Search Firms believe AI and automation will not likely have an impact on Stage 7 (Decision).

Search Firms See Value In AI Checking Their Work.

• 39.8% of search firms are very interested in AI automatically identifying any ‘gaps’ in info across Finalists (e.g. questions asked of some Finalists but not others).
• 33.0% of search firms are very interested in automatically following up with other Finalist candidates.

Part of the challenge search firms and clients face in Stage 7 (Decision) is ensuring every aspect of all finalist candidates have been discovered, presented, and evaluated equally. Similarly to Stage 5 (Outreach) search firms see opportunity and value for AI to double check the team’s work by identifying any inconsistencies or gaps in knowledge across finalist candidates, with 39.8% of search firms saying they were very interested in AI supporting this. For example assuring that all candidates have been asked the same questions during the interview process, or that candidates have been equally and fairly assessed based upon the original research criteria. Here, there is opportunity for AI to find any missing or overlooked requirements that can be flagged and properly triaged for each candidate to guarantee presentation of a final, fair and equal slate.

Search Firms Do Not Want AI Involved With In Final Decision Making Process.

• 62.5% are not interested in automatically generating offer letters (cash and/or equity).
• 40.9% of search firms are not interested in AI automatically conducting reference checks.

When it comes to Stage 7 (Decision) there are a number of standardized and templatized processes that need to occur including generating an offer letter and calling references. It is interesting that 6 out of 10 search firms (62.5%) are not interested in AI generating offer letters, even with much of this data (salary expectations and compensation ranges) already established and discussed back in the earlier stages. Ironically, even with access to a wider net of search data for past accepted offers and compensation research for similar searches, search firms believe AI should not or cannot deliver or produce a fair market or competitive offer.

Once again, even in Stage 7 (Decision) we see a fairly equitable divide between search firms when it comes to direct AI (machine) to human contact, with 40.9% of search firms not interested in AI conducting reference checks. Similarly to Stage 5 (Outreach) 52.7% of search firms do not want AI’s help or involvement when conducting initial screening calls. With both of these activities being more qualitative and introductory than anything, we arrive at another conclusive finding that search firms are not comfortable or do not trust AI with establishing an initial relationship with an individual on their behalf (candidate or reference). While search firms remain relatively divided on letting AI handle candidate follow-ups after a relationship has been built, search firms can agree that they see little value or place in their process for AI in these early stages of contact and relationship building.

Download and read the full report here: "A.I. and Its Impact On Executive Search".