AI Picks White Names Over Black In 85% Of Hiring Scenarios

Study Finds ^ | May 19, 2025 | Research led by Kyra Wilson, University of Washington

[null and void]

Courtney?

[bk1000]

I once knew a (somewhat liberal)recruiter who told me that any resume containing some outrageous name went immediately to the circular file.

[caddie]

Foolish parents, unread, unchurched, ignorant of most everything in the history of the world (and our nation) of significance.

Called upon to make a serious, grown-up decision: What should I name my offspring? One that is public, permanent, and significant.

By "significant" I mean it signifies what the parent thinks about the child, the importance of a human life, how it can be influenced for the good, how it has meaning and worth, and how they feel about their responsibility as parents.

And of course, being fools, they fail, miserably, embarrassingly so.

And their offspring, who ought to be angry about it, are also unchurched, unread, unprincipled, and globally ignorant about everything.

Stupid names are fierce strong identifiers of stupidity, like tattoos, but are more easily removed.

[gundog]

85/15? The horror....

[dfwgator]

If blacks are 13% of the population, then they are still coming out ahead.

[TLI]

“Tushiaquandra, UARCO, LaDesmendia are probably is not in the AI database”

.

Got one for you.

La-a Limajelo.

Translation: LaDasha Limejello.

Saw it with my own eyes...

.

[Menehune56]

I’d never seen it. So funny! Thanks for clueing me in.

[unlearner]

If an algorithm has a bias for names, you could assign a number and redact the names from the process.

But this is probably too obvious, and the only possible solution will be to have quotas. Right?

And what if an algorithm has a bias in favor of selecting the most qualified candidates, and this does not result in diversity utopia?

[Midwesterner53]

Who needs to see the Race block on applications when you only need to look at the name. Once again, black folks bring this on themselves. And not just males.

[dinodino]

They are only content because they are too lazy to research or fact-check. The amount of false info/hallucinations is terrifying.

[antidemoncrat]

So is it possible A1 code can be written with built in biases? ... Color me surprised

[Svartalfiar]

This is ridiculous. AI chose 85% white over black. Blacks make up roughly 13% of the population. Two percent disparity one way or the other does not imply racism.

Population is irrelevant here. The metric would be the color makeup of the resumes submitted. Did they test using 85% "white" resumes against 15% "black" resumes? Then yes, the 1:1 output is not colorist.

Or did the study put in equal 25% each black/white male/female resumes? Then an 85/15 split would imply some cause for the variance.

[Red Badger]

I have read that AI ‘learns’ it’s stuff from information that it gathers from the Internet.

It has no idea if that information is real, bogus or just opinions of other people or even other AI’s. It just takes it all in and regurgitates it as factual.

It’s like a 9 year-old that is suddenly introduced to the Internet with no holds barred and no guardrails for its own protection. Everything the child reads is accepted as fact.

If the vast majority of the data the AI encounters on a certain subject is mired in racist rhetoric and biased opinions, then no wonder the answers it gives would be as well, only more so........................

[9YearLurker]

With an otherwise equal resume (e.g., graduates from the same colleges with the same majors), whites and Asians are likely to have underlying SAT scores that are a few hundred points higher. That means that they are more likely to interview well and ultimately be chosen for positions (as long as DEI bias isn’t involved). Perhaps that’s the data driving these AI predictions of choices?

[political1]

Eliminate the interview process altogether. Just let AI choose your employees.

[deek69]

You beat me to it. Sounds about right to me.

[Red Badger]

[Georgia Girl 2]

AI is racist. Who knew? 😆

[Myrddin]

Personally I think it cruel to name a child so badly that no one knows how to spell or pronounce it.

I had a co-worker from Nigeria (naturalized American citizen with a DoD clearance). Very bright. A good team member. Her name was Nigerian and a huge challenge for the rest of the team to pronounce. I had multiple opportunities to speak with her on the phone and asked how to properly pronounce her name. I succeeded. In addition to speaking American English with no discernible accent, her native tongue is Igbo. I don't know what an AI would do with her resume, but it is a very good one.

I will share just the first names of my two co-workers with unusual names. The Nigerian co-worker is Chinenyem. The co-worker from Latvian heritage is Namejs. Both are top of the line co-workers.

[szweig]

the names below were taken from the rosters of college and pro football and basketball players, with some from local (L.A.) police blotters.

There are no imaginary names included.(Sorry - no punctuation)
Adalius
‘P Rae
Aaquan
Abrielle
Adewale
Ahmard
Aisha
Akisha
Aladrian
Alainian
Alando
Alaysia
Aldarius
Aleah
Aleeta
Alphe
Alterraun
Alvertis
Anqoinette
Anquan
Anterio
Antoine
Antrel
Antwaan
Antwan
Antwane
Aqeela
Arellious
Artell
Aundrae
Aurian
Aveion
Bakari
BenJarvus
Bijan
Bontae
Braylon
Briniyah
Camryn
Carlysia
Chanel
Chantelle
Chantrelle
Chantz
ChaToyya
Chaun
Chertisha
Chone
Chykie
Cleotus
Cletus
Contrell
Corinio
Correll
Craphonso
Crosetti
Da’Trayvan
Daequan
Dajohn
Dajuan
Damane
Damarcus
Damarlo
Damien
Danario
Danatus
Danieal
Dantrell
Danyell
Darcus
Daric
Darius
Darlanne
Darnell
Darrent
Darris
Dashawna
Dashon
Davontae
Davyeon
Dawan
Dayjia
DeAundre
Dechone
DeíMack
DeíMon
Deion
Deiondrick
Deione
DeíVion
DeíVon
Dejuan
Dekoda
Deliazard
DelJuan
Delmon
Deltha
Delwyn
DeMar
DeMarcus
Demario
Demeco
Demorrio
Denard
Denine
Denzel
Deon
Deonte
Dereona
Deron
Derricus
Desean
DeShaun
DeShawn
Deshea
Desmond
DeVarro
Devaughndre
DeVere
Devin
Devlin
DeZarey
Dezariah
DíAndre
DíAnthony
DíBrickashaw
Dionta
DiQuan
Diquone
DíQwell
DíVontrey
Domonique
Donrece
Dontarrius
Donteí
Dontral
Dontrell
Dontrelle
Dorissa
Dovante
Dravannti
Drayton
Du Juan
Dushawn
Dvon
Dwain
Dwyane
DyíOnne
Ean
Eboni
Edgerrin
Erasmus
Everettezz
Fabiene
Flozell
Fontel
Foswhitt
Frostee
Genarlow
Genean
Gerran
Gerris
Gervase
Gijon
Ha Lecia
Ikeam
Iofemi
Irdwin
Ishionte
Jabu
Jackeri
Jacquizz
Jahleighla
Jahvid
JaíCorey
JaíKuan
JaíShawn
JaJuan
Jakethiyah
Jamaal
Jamaine
Jamal
Jamar
Jamarcus
Jamario
Jamarius
Jameer
Jameisha
Jamiel
Jamiihr
Jamin
Jammal
Jamychal
Janarius
Janiyah
Janoris
Jarius
JaRon
Jarrad
Jarue
Jasmine
Jauan
Javarceay
Javares
Javarris
Javion
Jawann
Jaxeryus
Jaycen
Jayceon
Jayden
Jeh
Jehmu
Jemaiah
Jemalle
Jerame
Jerametrius
Jereme
Jerheme
Jermaine
Jermale
Jermareo
Jermichael
Jermil
Jermon
Jerramy
Jerrson
Jeshua
Jevon
Jheryl
JíMichael
Johnae
Johneisha
Johniya
Johnl
Joselio
Jrue
Jumaane
Junius
Juqua
Juwan
Jwon
Jyles
Jzamir
Kahlil
Kahyla
Kalima
Kalvin
Kalyn
Kambriel
Kamerion
Kanisha
Karington
Kashay
Kawann
Kayvon
Kedrin
Kee-ayre
Keion
Keishaun
Keiwan
Keiyanda
Kenisha
Kestahn
Keyaron
Keydrick
Keyon
Keyshard
Keyshawn
Keyunta
Khaled
Khalid
Khalif
Kheeston
Khreem
Kianna
Kiannah
Kieta
Kirlilah
Kiwaukee
Kjuana
Knowshon
Kwame
Kynika
LaDainian
Ladarious
LaíRoderick
LaíRoi
Lakeem
Lakeisha
Lakisha
Lamarcus
Lamarian
LaMarr
Laquan
Laquarry
LaRon
LaRoyce
LaSasha
LaShawn
Latarsha
LaTerra
LaTerryal
Latrell
LaTrisha
LaTroy
Lavelle
Laveranues
Lavernius
LeAndre
Leeshawn
LeíRon
Lemar
Lemaricus
LeMicah
Lendale
Lenyras
Leodis
Leomia
Letalvis
Levonne
Loletha
Lovell
Luster
Makayla
Marcedes
Marcellous
Marious
Markihe
MARKWAYNE
Marloe
Marquand
Marquel
Marquese
Marquest
Marquise
Marshawn
Martice
Martrez
Matterral
Maurkice
Meenakshi
Mewelde
Mijawon
Mikki
Mishawn
Mister
Montae
Montario
Montavious
Morkeith
Mossis
Mychal
Myhiesha
Mykal
Mykarsha
Nafloyd
Nakeisha
Naquan
Nischelle
Nurdeen
Nushawn
Nyasia
OíJahnae
OíJahnee
Omare
Omarius
Pharrell
Philonise
Pjai
Pleajhai
Purnell
Quan
Quanell
Quanis
Quinshon
Quintin
Quinton
Racquiha
Raheam
Raheem
RaíShon
Ramzee
Rashad
Rashard
Rasheed
Rashied
Rashieka
Ravon
Rayshaun
Rayshun
Renay
Reuele
Roisean
Rolandis
Rondarius
Ronnet
Ronyell
Roydell
Sakemeyia
Samardo
Santonio
Saquan
Sar-ron
Seandell
Seddrick
Senfronia
Shacoria
Shadayia
Shakira
Shamann
Shanesia
Shanetta
Shanice
Shanika
Shaniqua
Shaniya
Shantelle
Shantrelle
Shaquille
Shareece
Shawna
Shawnbrey
Shawne
Shawnte
Shelvin
Shemekia
Shequita
Sheriece
ShiíRenaja
Sinorice
SirVincent
Snorice
Starkiesha
Stephon
Stylez
Sycloria
Syesha
Ta-Nehisi
Ta’Kiyah
Tadarrius
Taiwan
Tamanika
Tamika
Tanard
Tarockus
Tarranisha
Tarvaris
Taurean
Taurisha
Tavin
Tayshaun
Terdell
Terrelle
Tervaris
Theandre
Thearon
Therrian
Toddrick
Toshmon
Tramon
Tranee
Travarous
Travon
Treavion
Tremaine
Trenard
Trequan
Tresonda
Treveyon
Trivel
Trumaine
Tyesha
TyíSheoma
Tyjana
Tyjuan
Tylan
Tyree
Tyreek
Tyreke
Tyshawn
Tywon
Unique
Uriel
Vanswan
Ventrell
Verron
Visanthe
Vondrell
Vonta
Vontae
Waynelle
Wondy
Xzavier
Yarisa
Zavarion
Zi’Aire
Zyair