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ORLANDO, Fla. — Recruiting is perhaps the biggest application of artificial intelligence in the HR space, with 93% of talent acquisition professionals stating they planned to increase their AI use in 2026.
But if employers aren’t careful, their AI tools could overlook an entire category of “hidden talent” that could otherwise fill empty roles, Jacqueline Grant, founder and CEO of The Management Academy, a workforce development organization, told SHRM26 attendees on June 18.
Hidden talent encompasses several groups of nontraditional job candidates such as career switchers, military veterans, graduates of workforce programs and adult learners. These individuals often bring with them credentials and experiences that do not neatly map with traditional recruitment parameters, Grant said, and AI — much like a human recruiter — may fail to understand or even recognize them.
“It’s really about seeing the value of the person, what they have to offer and what their experience might bring to the table,” Grant continued. “That will open up your opportunities for broadening your talent pool, and AI needs to be programmed for that.”
