Aug 13, 2026 – 2.27pmEvery day, Ash Becker receives a flood of messages from job-seeking women. The vast majority, she says, are raging against artificial intelligence, convinced it is scuppering their applications at the first hurdle.The desperate messages hitting her inbox say things like, “There’s so much AI around! There’s ageism and AI! I can’t get through the ATS [applicant tracking system]. An AI bot is not letting me pass through to interview.”Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Emma McGrath-CohenReporterEmma McGrath-Cohen is a journalist for The Australian Financial Review. Message Emma on Signal @emmamc.26Fetching latest articles
Jobseekers insist AI is ageist. This careers coach says they’re wrong
The narrative that automated filters block midlife applicants has gripped social media. But industry insiders argue a flooded market is the real issue.
TL;DRAI
Careers coach Ash Becker counters growing claims that AI/ATS systems block older female job-seekers; she disputes the ageism narrative. Recruitment algorithm governance and bias-mitigation strategy are now HR/compliance imperatives for tech-forward enterprises.
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