HR and talent professionals are overestimating the scale of AI-driven cheating in recruitment, according to new research from talent solutions provider Clevry.
While 62% believe candidates are using AI to cheat, only 26% say they have seen evidence of candidates manipulating assessment results.
Alan Redman, chief science officer at Clevry, said the concern is being driven more by perception than reality.
Dr Redman, a work and organisational psychologist, said: “There’s a growing perception that AI is fuelling widespread cheating in recruitment, but the reality is far less dramatic. The concern is being driven more by anxiety than actual evidence.
“The industry’s fear of AI-enabled cheating is out of proportion to what’s actually happening. Most of the data we’ve seen suggests prevalence is relatively low, certainly far lower than people assume.
“Cheating in recruitment isn’t new. AI is just the latest tool people might use, much like asking a friend for help in the past.”
The State of AI in Talent Assessments 2026 report suggests the risk can be managed through better assessment design and simple deterrents, with some formats far harder to manipulate than others.
Dr Redman added: “Getting a job has always been an arms race. As new tools emerge, people will try to use them, but assessment methods evolve just as quickly to keep pace.
“There is an irony here as the same tools candidates might use to ‘game’ the process are often the skills employers are actively looking for.
“Being able to use AI effectively, for example structuring information or writing strong prompts, is increasingly a valuable workplace skill and not necessarily something to penalise.”
Claudia Nuttgens global head of assessment and selection consulting at AMS said: “We know that some assessment approaches are more susceptible to candidate use of ChatGPT than others and are working with clients to think about how you deter, spot and prevent ChatGPt use where appropriate.
“To some extent we are also exploring how you allow for candidate use of ChatGPT in new approaches to assessments as using AI is going to become a huge component of many people’s working lives.”
For more information please visit: www.clevry.com
For the full report please visit: https://www.clevry.com/en/the-state-of-ai-in-talent-assessments/
