AI companies are helping companies fight fake AI job applications

Fraudulent job applications as well as DeepFake applicants have become a serious issue in the era of remote interviews and Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated synthetic content. Research firm Gartner predicts that by 2028, up to 25% of applications could be fake. In some cases, fraudsters in North Korea have managed to land Western tech jobs under false pretenses, according to recent reports.

One client recently told Daniel Chait, cofounder and CEO of hiring software company Greenhouse, that more than 70% of applications for remote tech roles they’re receiving are fake. Others have reported increasing difficulty sorting through waves of irrelevant or fraudulent submissions.

“What we’re hearing from them is that they’re overrun with spam, unqualified applicants, cheating (people using various means to pass job interviews), and fraud. [It’s] wilful misrepresentation in the process, often by kind of nefarious groups,” Chait says.

To combat the problem, Greenhouse is developing a new platform called Greenhouse Real Talent. The goal is to filter out unqualified candidates submitting AI-generated applications, those using AI tools during interviews, and individuals applying under fake identities.

To help with identity verification, Greenhouse is partnering with Clear, the company best known for its expedited airport security service. In recent years, Clear has expanded beyond travel with a platform called Clear1. While airports were the initial focus, the company always intended to move into broader identity verification, says Clear cofounder and CEO Caryn Seidman Becker in an exclusive interview with Fast Company.

“Clear1 really does reflect our day one vision to make experiences safer and easier, physically and digitally,” she says. “It’s what we talked about and pitched 15 years ago when we went out to raise capital to start Clear, and it’s coming to fruition today.”

Clear now provides ID checks for LinkedIn verification badges, tool rentals at Home Depot, and patient check-ins at certain medical facilities. In April, it announced a partnership with DocuSign to integrate identity verification into digital contract signings. T-Mobile also uses Clear1 to authenticate employees, the companies announced Wednesday, saying biometrics help the telecom provider confirm employees’ actual identities, not just that they know a password or are in possession of a particular device.

The Clear1 platform enables businesses to add identity checks into their websites or apps, whether on users’ phones or company tablets in places like medical offices. First-time users are typically asked to provide an E-Mail address and phone number, photograph a government-issued ID, and take a selfie to confirm they’re real. Future verifications are usually quicker.

The process is meant to feel similar to logging in with Google credentials or using Apple Pay, allowing users to see what information is shared with the requesting company.

“They can verify with Clear just like you can pay with Apple,” Seidman Becker says.

The stage at which applicants are asked to verify their identity through Clear will depend on each company’s process. Chait expects that employers using Real Talent, which is set to launch in the third quarter of this year, will ask applicants to reverify at key stages such as before video interviews.

Behind the scenes, Clear checks various factors to validate documents, confirm the user matches them, and detect suspicious device activity. Seidman Becker says this provides a seamless way for businesses to ensure users are who they claim to be, without relying on multiple tools.

Verification is also faster after a user completes the process once. According to the company, initial verification takes about 90 seconds, and later sessions typically take less than 15 seconds. Clear also offers alternative verification methods for users who struggle with certain steps - a common issue during the COVID-era unemployment surge - though Seidman Becker declined to share details, citing proprietary technology.

“There are other ways that we can work to verify you, as opposed to some more traditional ID verification companies that just sort of have one trick, if you will,” she says.

Chait adds that Real Talent will offer an alternative path for applicants who are unable or unwilling to use Clear’s standard process.

“If you, for a variety of reasons, don’t want to or can’t be part of that online verification process, there’ll be an alternative path,” he says. “But I think most people will find it’s a lot more convenient and a lot more straightforward to do it the Clear way.”

Clear has occasionally faced criticism from lawmakers and travellers over its paid airport perks and from privacy advocates concerned about biometric data use. Seidman Becker argues that Clear’s visibility and track record actually build trust among businesses and consumers handling sensitive data. She also believes the use of Clear online may drive more sign-ups for its airport services.

In May, the company reported that first-quarter revenue rose 18.1% year over year to $211.4 million, with Clear+ airport memberships up 9.1%. Last fall, Clear introduced new facial recognition technology in airports, which it claims is significantly faster than its previous systems.

As Seidman Becker puts it, “You barely break stride, and it captures your face, and it is joyful and beautiful, and literally five times faster.”