The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences invites the UMass community to its second keynote event in the year-long series, “AI and Us: Rethinking Research, Work, and Society.” The talk, “How AI Is Changing Hiring and the World of Work,” will be delivered by Hilke Schellmann, Emmy–award–winning investigative reporter and journalism professor at NYU.
The Algorithm: How AI Decides Who Gets Hired, Monitored, Promoted, and Fired, and Why We Need to Fight Back Now
📅 Thursday, November 20
⏰ 12–1 p.m.
🔗 Register via Zoom
Schellmann will examine how algorithmic hiring and management systems are reshaping the workplace—and why she believes they represent one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time. Her investigative work uncovers how AI tools are increasingly used to evaluate job candidates, monitor employees, and influence advancement, raising important questions about fairness, bias, and accountability.
This keynote is part of AI and Us, a 2025–2026 academic series bringing together leading voices from UMass, industry, and beyond to explore AI’s growing role in social science research, teaching, and society. Over the course of the year, the series will delve into four central themes:
- Teaching and Learning with AI
- AI and Social Science Research
- The Future of Work
- AI and Society
Through talks, workshops, and interactive events, the series aims to foster ethical, interdisciplinary engagement with AI and prepare students to navigate a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Students, faculty, alumni, and community members are encouraged to attend and take part in these vital conversations.
Join us throughout the year as we learn, question, and imagine the future of AI—together.