Next-Gen Recruiter: Redefining the Role in the Era of AI and Automation

Join Tyson Franco, CEO and Founder of Mako Professionals, as he moderates a candid conversation with Aaron Wang, CEO of Alex.ai; Andy Jones, CEO of TrackerRMS; and Marcello Amiano, Co-Founder and CEO of NewCombin. Together, they break down what’s real (and what’s hype) about AI in staffing today, where AI is delivering measurable value, and why human judgment and relationships still matter most. From screening and compliance to global recruiting and the skills recruiters will need going forward, this episode offers a practical look at how staffing leaders can use AI to reduce busy work, improve execution, and stay competitive.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Introduction & Guest Overview (00:00)
• The Current State of AI in Staffing: Reality vs. Hype (02:46)
• Why AI Is Not a Silver Bullet for Recruiting (04:15)
• Starting With the Business Problem, Not the Technology (05:53)
• AI as an Enabler, Not a Replacement (07:36)
• Why AI Is Not Plug-and-Play (08:12)
• Using AI to Handle Repetitive Recruiting Tasks (12:51)
• What AI Does Well Today and Where Humans Still Matter (13:53)
• Screening, Candidate Matching, and Interview Summaries (12:51)
• What’s Still Smoke and Mirrors in AI Adoption (17:30)
• Multi-Channel AI Recruiting: Voice, Text, and Video (16:32)
• Why Fully Autonomous Staffing Firms Aren’t Here Yet (17:30)
• Compliance, Governance, and AI Data Risks (21:03)
• Candidate Reactions to AI Screening (23:55)
• Reducing Ghosting and Improving Candidate Experience (26:14)
• Where AI Should Not Be Used in Recruiting (27:21)
• Detecting Candidate Fraud and Identity Issues (29:41)
• Measuring Efficiency Gains with AI Recruiters (30:36)
• How ATS Platforms Are Evolving With Agentic Workflows (32:43)
• AI in Global Recruiting: Accounting for Cultural Differences (36:40)
• The Recruiter of Tomorrow: Managing AI Agents (38:46)
• Which Recruiting Tasks AI Will Take Over Next (42:06)
• Small Firms vs. Large Firms: Who Has the AI Advantage? (46:16)
• New Skills to Look For When Hiring Recruiters (49:16)
• Final Advice for Staffing Executives Navigating AI Adoption (54:02)
• Closing Thoughts (56:46)