AI Recruiter uses AI to conduct automated phone interviews with candidates, dramatically reducing recruiter workload while maintaining consistent, fair evaluation. Anna, Fountain's AI interviewing agent, conducts structured interviews based on your job requirements and scores candidates objectively.
What is AI Recruiter?
How it works:
Anna conducts phone interviews with candidates using:
Predetermined interview questions based on your job description
Job qualifications that define scoring criteria
Natural conversation flow with follow-up questions to gather deeper insights
Key capabilities:
Conducts interviews 24/7 via phone call, text, or desktop
Scores candidates based on predefined job qualifications
Generates detailed interview reports with transcripts and audio recordings
Automatically pulls job-specific details (location, pay, hours) from your openings
Benefits of AI Recruiter
Reduced Time-to-Hire - Automates screening and scoring for faster decision-making
Increased Fairness and Consistency - Every candidate gets the same structured experience
Improved Hiring Efficiency - Recruiters focus on top talent rather than manual screening
Higher Quality Candidates - More in-depth screening up front can result in higher quality candidates
24/7 Availability - Candidates can interview at their convenience, eliminating scheduling conflicts
This feature is available in Fountain Hire and Hire Go.
Watch the video below to learn more!
How AI Recruiter Works
Fountain's Approach to Fair AI Assessment
Fountain uses diverse data training and adverse impact monitoring to ensure fair hiring practices:
Intelligent Questions Design:
Job-specific AI-generated questions - Fountain's AI analyzes job descriptions to generate tailored interview questions aligned with position requirements
Standardized interview framework - Ensures consistency across all candidates, reducing variability in evaluation
Candidate Interaction and Assessment:
Conversational AI for inclusive engagement - Candidates interact with AI-driven interviews at their convenience, eliminating scheduling conflicts and accessibility barriers
Automated skill and behavioral evaluation - AI assesses candidate responses based on predefined job qualifications, focusing on competencies rather than subjective impressions
Bias Reduction and Response Analysis:
Objective AI-powered evaluation - AI transcribes and analyzes candidate responses in real time, applying structured scoring models to eliminate human bias
Data-driven decision support - Provides recruiters with AI-generated summaries highlighting key skills, experience, and response quality
What AI Recruiter Does
Process only candidate-consented data (no unauthorized data collection)
Evaluate responses based on structured job qualifications
Provide transparent, explainable scoring
Use only role-relevant factors in assessments
Undergo regular bias testing and audits
What AI Recruiter Does NOT Do
Infer or correlate candidate traits based on voice or facial features
Process social media, personal, or web data
Expose diversity data to hiring managers
Make hiring decisions autonomously (final decisions remain with human recruiters)
Produce unexplainable recommendations
Candidate Experience
When candidates land in an AI Recruiter stage, they receive an invitation to interview. They can complete the interview by:
Phone call
Text
Desktop computer
The interview opens in a new browser tab and typically takes about 5 minutes.
Interview Continuation
If a candidate's call drops or internet connection is interrupted, they can simply call back or restart the interview. Anna will pick up where they left off, allowing them to complete the interview without starting over.
AI Interview Results
The results of the AI Recruiter are visible within Fountain Hire and Hire Go via the Applicant’s Profile. Additionally, in Fountain Hire, you can view results by clicking on the AI Recruiter Status Label.
Fountain Hire:
Hire Go:
Results are broken into two sections:
Full Report (View Interview Report): A URL to access the full interview report, including an assessment summary, the original recording, and a full transcript.
Interview Score (Partner Details): A numerical rating of the candidate’s performance, which is also visible on the label.
Full Report
Within the full report, you can review the score and reasons the AI Recruiter gave the candidate that specific score, including promoter and detractor reasons. You will also have the option to listen to the phone call or review the full transcript.
AI Interview Scoring
Review the table below to understand more about the AI interview scoring and hiring implications:
Score | Response Evaluation | Hiring Implication (Human Decision) |
5 - Excellent | Demonstrates deep understanding, relevant experience, and strong alignment with required skills and behavior attributes. | Strong recommendation for advancement. |
4 - Good | Provides well-structured responses with clear competency indicators, meeting job requirements. | Move forward with confidence. |
3 - Moderate | The response is relevant but may lack depth in experience, skills, or example. | Consider for further review or additional screening. |
2 - Partial | Shows potential but lacks key skills, experience, or clarity in response. | Might need up-skilling or additional experience. |
1 - Low | Responses are off-topic, incorrect, or fail to demonstrate relevant qualifications | Do not proceed with the hiring process. |
Provide Feedback on the Evaluation
You can leave optional feedback on the AI’s evaluation, which Fountain uses to suggest recommended updates to your Job Qualifications and improve grading calibration over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why does my candidate have to complete the interview in a new tab?
Q. Why does my candidate have to complete the interview in a new tab?
We cannot request microphone and camera permissions from within an iframe in the Applicant Portal. When applicants click the “continue interview in browser” link, it will open a new tab to request permissions and start the interview.
Q. Can AI Recruiter be used in only a subset of Openings?
Q. Can AI Recruiter be used in only a subset of Openings?
Yes! Customers can add the AI Recruiter stage in select workflows (not all) and can set rules before the stage to determine which applicants should be routed to the AI Recruiter stage.
Q. Can I give my candidates a choice of whether they do an AI Recruiter or a human interview?
Q. Can I give my candidates a choice of whether they do an AI Recruiter or a human interview?
Absolutely! Simply set up a Data Collection stage asking candidates to choose between two options: if they’d like an interview immediately, conducted by AI, or if they’d like to schedule one later. A rule can then route candidates who choose the AI Recruiter to the AI Recruiter stage.
Q. Can I set the language my AI Recruiter conducts the interview in?
Q. Can I set the language my AI Recruiter conducts the interview in?
Yes! A specific interview template can be set to a specific language via the template settings. Here is the list of current supported interview languages as of August 2025:
English (Available accents: American, British, Filipino, Indian, South African)
English + Spanish multilingual (allows candidate to respond in whatever they're most comfortable with)
Chinese (simplified)
French
French Canadian
German
Hindi
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
Russian
Japanese
Dutch
Vietnamese
Additionally, AI Recruiter has a Multilingual Interviewer mode, which enables candidates to select their preferred interview language from a single view. This means the AI Recruiter can automatically switch languages mid-interview based on the candidate's choice, making the experience more accessible, inclusive, and flexible for a multilingual applicant pool.
The languages currently supported are: Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish
The Multilingual Interviewer mode is a premium feature. Contact your Fountain Customer Success contact if you are interested in this option but do not see it in your account.
Q. Can I have the same interview template twice in one Opening?
Q. Can I have the same interview template twice in one Opening?
No. If an applicant lands in the same Interview Template twice in one Opening, the AI Recruiter will assume the applicant got cut off during the last interview and will only show “Resume Interview” as an option. AI Recruiter identifies applicants by email + phone pairs.
Q. Why are none of my applicants receiving a 5 score?
Q. Why are none of my applicants receiving a 5 score?
The AI Recruiter scores strictly, but 5s should still appear occasionally. Sometimes adjusting the wording of a qualification or question can help. Reach out to your Fountain Customer Success contact or [email protected] for additional assistance.
Watch the video below for additional best practices: