AI interviews are an integral part of recruitment in 2025. Powered by conversational AI, these interviews use bots to interact with candidates in real-time, being able to screen hundreds of applicants in a given day.

Our AI agent at Talvin AI, Sally, has helped our clients cut their time-to-hire by an impressive 68% on average, saving them valuable time and resources. 

As more companies turn to virtual agents for recruitment, we’ve found that many want a clearer understanding of how AI interviews work – and what makes them so effective.

That’s why we put together this blog post, to explain the process in-depth and share additional insights that you might find valuable.

Keep reading.

How Do AI Interviews Work?

We divided the different steps that go into AI interviews below:

 

The First Impression

When a candidate begins their AI interview journey, the first touchpoint is the front-end interface, which is the part they interact with directly. 

Candidates typically receive a secure interview link via email or SMS. Once they click through, they’re guided through an onboarding screen with clear instructions on how to proceed, what the interview with the AI agent will entail, and any technical requirements that they may have to meet.

 

During the Interview

Once the interview begins, candidates are presented with one question at a time. This format keeps the process focused and less overwhelming. AI interviews may be conducted via:

• Text: Candidates type their responses.
• Voice: They speak answers, which are transcribed in real-time.
• Video: Visual responses are captured, mimicking traditional video interviews.

The system may offer prompts, such as “Take your time” or “Please elaborate,” to simulate a conversational flow. This adds a layer of interactivity, helping candidates stay engaged while reducing the robotic feel that traditional automated systems can have.

 

Dynamic Questioning

What sets advanced AI interviews apart is their ability to adapt in real-time.

Here is an example:

If a candidate gives a vague or partial answer, the system can immediately generate a follow-up question to dig deeper into a specific skill or experience. This is powered by generative AI models that assess for clarity and completeness.

This feature personalises the interview experience and ensures recruiters receive more comprehensive insights, especially for roles where detailed answers matter.

 

Capturing and Processing Responses

As candidates answer, their responses are captured and stored in multiple formats:

• Audio responses are recorded and transcribed using advanced speech-to-text (STT) technology.
• Video answers are saved for later review, allowing hiring teams to assess non-verbal cues.
• Text inputs are stored and evaluated in real-time.

Every input is attached to the candidate’s profile and logged securely, giving recruiters a full view of how the interview went,  including what was said, how it was said, and even behavioural cues like tone or confidence.

 

Real-Time Feedback 

Some platforms go beyond passive recording. They actively monitor candidate behaviour during the session and provide real-time suggestions.

For instance, if a candidate speaks too quickly, the system may suggest they slow down or take a deep breath. These micro-interactions create a more human-like environment that help candidates perform better by making the experience feel supportive.

 

Post-Interview Insights 

After the interview, the AI generates a detailed report, highlighting:

• Performance scores
• Key strengths
• Areas for improvement
• Behavioural analysis (tone, engagement, confidence)

This data-heavy output gives recruiters a holistic view of the candidate, which is far more nuanced than a basic yes/no recommendation.

 

What Are AI Interviews?

AI interviews are job interviews that are automated, where candidates respond to a fixed set of interview questions, with answers analysed by an artificial intelligence algorithm.

Their main goal is to standardise the interview process, improve efficiency, and remove human bias, through the use of a powerful virtual agent.

AI interviews can be divided into two main types:

• AI-Assessed Video Interviews: Candidates record video answers to questions that were sent as assessments, which are then analysed for facial expressions, tone, language, and other relevant cues.
• AI-Led Conversational Interviews: An AI chatbot conducts the interview in real-time, using natural language processing (NLP)  to understand and respond to what the candidate says.

 

In our opinion, AI-assessed video interviews are not the most ideal choice, as there is a significant risk of bias. 

In fact, data from EduMax found that 44% of virtual video interviews were embedded with gender bias, meaning your AI agent could disregard candidates by over or underestimating their future performance.

 

What Is Conversational AI?

Conversational AI is at the cornerstone of AI interviews – and is integral to our operations here at Talvin AI.

Here’s how it works:

It refers to using bots to simulate human-like conversations, using advanced NLP and dialogue management systems to interact with people through text or voice in a natural way.

NLP processes large amounts of unstructured human language data to create structured data formats, through computer linguistics and machine learning (ML). The ML algorithm then fully grasps a sentence and the function of each word in it to create meaningful responses.

This means that with conversational AI, real-time interviews are possible, with bots being able to analyse and ask follow-up questions as it sees fit. This is something we have been very successful with at Talvin AI.

We saw how cumbersome and resource-heavy hiring for businesses was, especially for small businesses, so we created our AI agent, Sally.

At a very reasonable cost, you have access to a virtual agent that will work 24/7 to interview candidates, using conversational AI based on hiring criteria that you set to find you the perfect hires.

What sets Sally apart? 

She is proven to cut hiring time by 68%, as seen in our case study on Code94 Labs: they were able to go from 488 resumes to 15 chosen candidates for the final interview, within a week.

In addition to this, she is proven to be bias-free, creates details reports and insights on how each candidate performed (including a rating out of 100), as well as can run phone references and verify candidates herself!

 

What are the Benefits of Using AI in Recruitment?

 

1. Faster Screening

AI can process thousands of applications and identify top candidates in minutes, drastically reducing time-to-hire. in fact, with Talvin AI, you are proven to cut your time-to-hire down by 68%. This can be especially important, as a shorter time-to-hire helps you land talent before they are swept away by rival companies

2. Bias Reduction

By focusing on competencies rather than subjective traits, AI interviews reduce unconscious bias that traditional human interviewers may struggle with – such as misconceptions about race or gender.

3. Improved Candidate Experience

With AI interviewers available 24/7, candidates can schedule interviews at their convenience, increasing accessibility and reducing stress. Why is candidate experience so important? Data shows that 66% of applicants are more likely to accept a job if they had a positive interview experience with a company.

4. Data-Driven Hiring

AI captures and analyses soft skills and behavioural patterns, providing insights that go beyond resumes.

However, AI is not a replacement for human judgment. The goal is to aid with human decision-making, and not completely eliminate it.

With Sally – our AI agent, she not only provides detailed insights but rates candidates on a scale of 100 to help you make informed decisions faster.

 

Are You Ready For the Future of Hiring?

Talvin AI is at the forefront of recruiting – not only does it make recruiting more efficient, faster, and cost-free, it also empowers you to screen through hundreds more candidates to find the right fit, without the usual drain. 

What truly sets Talvin AI apart from other AI tools? Sally – our virtual voice agent. She doesn’t just ask questions, she analyses and listens, evaluating candidates against your pre-set criteria using smart conversational AI. She then generates a detailed report, and assigns candidates tailored ratings. 

And it gets even better – Sally can handle phone reference checks herself, saving you even more time and energy. 

Ready to see us in action? Get in touch with us for a FREE demo!