AI isn’t magic, but it can transform background checks by Alex Aoun

Today’s background check industry is dichotomous at best. On the one hand, the industry has been web-enabled with new entrants offering faster online verification, and on the other, there are large swathes of the industry that still relies heavily on traditional and conventional forms of screening. The traditional or conventional approach still involves a great many manual processes, a heavy reliance on databases and a general acceptance of a “snapshot-in-time” approach to information gathering. Traditional approaches can be inflexible and not easily adaptable to detecting emerging threats. Like most other industries, background check providers cannot escape the inexorable pull of AI to modernize and automate time-consuming activities. Many reports still take days, sometimes weeks to produce, while clients are demanding faster, cheaper yet still accurate and up-to-date reports. The industry is poised for AI transformation.

The twin pillars of efficiency and effectiveness

‍AI-powered background checks can lead to greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness. AI can help maximize resources by optimizing time-consuming processes. Take, for example, the staggering amount of databases being used for virtually all kinds of checks today: criminal, credit, education, sanctions, watchlists and so on. AI algorithms can be used to search and analyze quickly, cross-referencing and verifying across disparate databases. This can save time while increasing accuracy. And, what about the information not contained in databases, such as negative news? Negative news screening or adverse media isn’t new to the world of background checks.

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