16.09.2024

Only 40% of recruiters can spot AI-generated headshots

A new survey from Ringover uncovers whether an AI generated headshot makes you more hireable.

More and more providers are offering AI headshot generation services for resumes, websites and LinkedIn profiles–ranging from no-cost internet portals, to bespoke services.

Ringover asked 1,087 recruiters general questions about headshots, and to pick their favourite headshots per candidate, not realising some were AI-generated. They were then asked questions about AI-generated headshots and asked to correctly spot them.

Three quarters (76.5%) of recruiters preferred AI headshots over real headshots

Out of a line-up of a real headshot, a mid-range AI generated headshot, and top-tier generated headshot, recruiters chose an AI headshot 76.5% of the time.

Which headshots are recruiters' favorites?

Top-range AI headshot: 42%
Mid-range AI headshot: 34.4%
Real: 23.5%

Recruiters correctly spotted AI headshots 39.5% of the time

Nearly all (80%) of recruiters thought they had accurately or very accurately identified AI headshots. In reality, they only guessed correctly 4 out of 10 times. Respondents were incorrect half the time (52.9%) and 7.6% of responses said they ‘couldn’t tell’.

Could recruiters identify a real vs AI generated headshot?

Type of headshot	% of correct guesses
No-cost AI	58.9%
Top-tier AI	29.2%
Mid-range AI	29.5%
Real	64.3%

Eight in 10 (84%) of recruiters said they would or would consider using an AI headshot themselves

Perhaps impressed by the quality of the results, 84% of recruiters said they would or would consider using an AI headshot themselves–and 88% thought it would be a good idea to use AI headshots in their company.

However the survey revealed some clear double standards. Two-thirds (66%) of recruiters said they would be put off by a candidate if they recognised their headshot was AI generated and nine in 10 (88%) of recruiters believe that it should be made clear when a candidate has used an AI generated headshot.

Two thirds of recruiters (66.7%) find it helpful to put a face to a name

Although including a headshot in a resume is outdated, social recruiting (using social media as a recruitment tool) is on the rise. Half (50%) of the recruiters said they always check out LinkedIn or other social media profiles of the candidates, and a third (33.3%) said they would if the profile is linked in the application.

Two thirds of recruiters (66.7%) said that it is helpful to put a face to a name, the reasons given were:

To get a better feel for the character of the applicant: 57.5%
To make the candidate more memorable: 39.7%
To see if they would be a fit for the company: 30.3%

But an unprofessional headshot or LinkedIn profile picture damages an application: two thirds (67.5%) of recruiters say they had been actively put off by a bad picture.

View the full report here: https://www.ringover.com/blog/ai-headshots

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