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Data & responsible AI

Recruitment and the AI Act: uses, responsibilities and preparation for 2027

Drafting a vacancy and evaluating applicants are different AI uses. Start with what the system actually does and how its output affects people.

4 min read Updated 15 Sept 2026 Published by aiKip

What to remember

  • Annex III addresses specified recruitment and candidate-assessment systems.
  • The amended timetable sets 2 December 2027 for the relevant Annex III provisions.
  • GDPR and employment rules continue to apply independently.
01

Identify the intended use

List drafting, extraction, summarization, ranking and evaluation separately. Record inputs, outputs and the decisions affected.

Annex III point 4 of Regulation 2024/1689 covers specified recruitment and selection uses. Classification also requires examining Article 6 and its bounded exceptions. Not every AI tool used by HR automatically has the same status.

02

Read the current timetable

Regulation 2026/1744 sets 2 December 2027 for Chapter III Sections 1–3 concerning Article 6(2) and Annex III high-risk systems, subject to the stated Article 6(5) exception. Annex I systems have a different timetable.

Other dates and transitional rules also apply. System history and changes may matter. This timetable does not suspend GDPR or employment obligations.

03

Distinguish provider and deployer roles

A provider develops or markets the system under the regulation’s conditions; a deployer uses it professionally. Significant changes or altered purposes may require further analysis.

Relevant requirements concern risk management, documentation, logging, information, oversight and robustness. Ask what exists, what remains open and under which conditions the system is intended to be used.

04

Make oversight meaningful

A confirmation button alone does not establish useful oversight. Decision makers need information, time and the ability to disagree with the output.

If an analysis misses experience in a CV, the recruiter should inspect the original and ask for clarification. Define how errors are raised and decisions documented rather than routinely following a score.

05

Ask concrete demonstration questions

Use fictional representative cases, including incomplete documents and uncertain output. Ask about evaluation methods and limitations rather than seeking an unsupported promise of zero bias.

Questions for the provider
TopicQuestion
PurposeWhat decisions should the system support, and what uses are excluded?
DataWhat is transmitted, where and to whom?
ExplanationCan the result be connected to evidence in the record?
ErrorsHow are incorrect extraction and analysis handled?
EvaluationWhich tests and limitations are documented?
ChangesHow are model and method changes tracked?
06

Assess data protection separately

GDPR requirements include lawful grounds, information, retention and rights. Article 22 addresses specified solely automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects; this is not resolved by a generic consent checkbox.

Assess whether a data protection impact assessment is required for your processing. French hosting does not remove that question, and a vendor document does not automatically cover every employer’s situation.

07

What aiKip documents

aiKip presents scoring as indicative and keeps recruiter review and decisions central. Its transparency page describes intended uses, measures and remaining work.

Published controls are not a blanket certification. During a trial, check whether your team can inspect explanations and original information.

08

Prepare an owned review process

Assign an owner and involve HR, data protection, IT and legal functions as appropriate. Maintain a coherent view of uses, provider documentation, internal rules and unresolved points.

Review it when the tool, model or usage changes, keeping reference dates and versions.

  1. Inventory

    List uses, data and affected decisions.

  2. Classify

    Assess roles and applicable requirements.

  3. Organize

    Prepare oversight, information, error handling and training.

  4. Review

    Track product and regulatory changes.

aiKip guide

Frequently asked questions

Does the AI Act ban AI-assisted recruitment?

No. It distinguishes uses and risks, including prohibited uses and specified high-risk systems. Assess the actual system and purpose.

Can preparation wait until 2027?

GDPR and employment rules already apply independently. Organizing responsibilities and oversight takes time.

Does aiKip claim AI Act certification?

No. Its transparency page publishes measures and remaining work rather than a general certification claim.

Published by aiKip with AI-assisted drafting. Examples and templates are illustrative, not customer results. Official references are linked beside the relevant passages and were checked for this update. Legal information should be assessed against your own situation.