Over 3 in 4 recruiters prefer AI-generated headshot over real ones

But many unable to detect real from 'fake' headshots: survey

Over 3 in 4 recruiters prefer AI-generated headshot over real ones

More than three in four recruiters in the United States have expressed a preference for AI-generated headshots over a real one in a test carried out by Ringover.

The poll presented 1,087 recruiters in the US with a line-up of headshots, including a real one, a mid-range AI-generated headshot, and a top-tier AI-generated headshot.

The findings revealed that 42% of recruiters prefer the top-range headshot, which cost $35 to generate.

Another 34.4% chose the mid-range AI headshot, which cost $9.99 to make, while only 23.5% chose the real headshot as their favourite.

Detecting AI headshots

The report also tested recruiters on whether they could detect AI-generated headshots by lining up four photos, which included three AI-generated ones and a real headshot.


Source: Ringover

More than half of recruiters were able to correctly guess the free AI-generated (58.9%) and real headshots (64.3%), according to Ringover.

Less than a third, on the other hand, were able to detect the top-range (29.2%) and mid-range (29.5%) AI-generated headshots.


Source: Ringover

Importance of headshots

The findings come as 66.7% of recruiters find headshots helpful to put a face to a name, according to Ringover's poll.

In fact, the report found that 50% of recruiters would check a candidate's LinkedIn or other social media profiles to put a face to the name.

According to the recruiters, further benefits from headshots are that they:

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

Two in three recruiters (67.5%) even said a bad picture will actively put them off.

In terms of using AI headshots, 66% said they would be put off by a candidate using one without disclosing it, as 88% believe applicants should make it clear if they're using an AI-generated headshot.