The Smart Leaders’ Guide To Stopping AI Bias In Its Tracks

Small BusinessEntrepreneursThe Smart Leaders’ Guide To Stopping AI Bias In Its TracksByAytekin Tank,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Aytekin Tank is the founder and CEO of Jotform.Follow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 08:55am EDTMay 28, 2026, 10:32am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryA lawsuit against HR platform Workday highlights growing concerns over AI bias in hiring, alleging discrimination based on age, race, and disability. Workday denies these claims, stating AI only matches qualifications and human decisions are final. Experts warn that AI bias originates from flawed training data, reflecting and amplifying societal prejudices, making it difficult to detect and remove. The risks are significant, including legal challenges, regulatory scrutiny, and reputational damage, as seen with new laws like Colorado's AI Act. To mitigate these issues, leaders must conduct thorough due diligence on AI tools, ensure continuous monitoring, maintain human oversight for critical decisions, and involve diverse perspectives in evaluation. Proactive management is crucial to prevent long-term harm.Show More Photo by Helena Lopes on UnsplashUNSPLASH.COMIf you follow industry news, you may be aware of the lawsuit being brought against the HR platform Workday, which claims that AI has been unfairly screening out candidates based on factors like age, race and disability. Workday has denied the claims, insisting that hiring decisions are made by humans, and that AI is only used to compare a candidate’s qualifications with those listed in a job posting. “They [AI] are not trained to use—or even identify—protected characteristics…and there’s no evidence that the technology results in harm to protected groups,” a Workday spokesperson previously told Forbes. How the lawsuit unfolds remains to be seen. But regardless of the outcome, the issues around AI...