KPMG’s innovative leap into AI-driven recruitment is yielding remarkable results. The global professional services firm has introduced a custom-built AI assistant named Kai, which has already saved its HR team over 1,000 hours and cut interview scheduling time by 58%—from an average of 1 hour to just 25 minutes.
This strategic transformation is led by Sandy Torchia, Vice Chair of Talent and Culture at KPMG, with a clear mission:
“Provide candidates with 24/7 access to information, and allow HR teams to focus on more meaningful, strategic tasks.”
🤖 Meet Kai: KPMG’s AI-Powered HR Assistant
Developed in collaboration with Paradox, a leading provider of conversational AI for hiring, Kai answers thousands of candidate queries—ranging from hiring process and company benefits to work hours—especially during non-business hours. Remarkably, 33% of the 23,000+ queries handled in the first year came after 5 p.m.
In addition to handling FAQs, Kai also offers personalized job recommendations based on a candidate’s location, experience, and interests. Notably, 21.5% of users who received these AI-driven suggestions showed interest in the recommended roles.
⚙️ Strategic Automation, Human Touch Intact
Paradox CEO Adam Godson emphasizes that Kai’s strength lies in its focused, purpose-driven automation:
“It’s not about automating everything—it’s about automating where it makes the most sense. Candidates still value human interaction, and so do recruiters.”
While Kai automates administrative tasks and accelerates workflows, KPMG retains human oversight for critical decisions like candidate screening and interviews, ensuring the company’s culture and personal connections remain intact.
💡 The Bigger Picture: AI with Empathy
Torchia highlights the deeper benefit of AI in HR:
“It’s not just about saving hours. It’s about improving job satisfaction for our team, allowing them to do more strategic, rewarding work.”
KPMG’s approach is a powerful case study for organizations exploring AI in talent acquisition: targeted automation that solves real problems, enhances candidate experience, and preserves the human connection.
📈 Related Insight:
According to recent reports, India’s HR tech market is expected to reach USD 2,300 million by 2033, signaling vast opportunities for AI adoption in the recruitment space.
