Evaluation the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the implementation of merit criteria in employment in the public sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) on the implementation of merit criteria in the employment of senior bureaucratic officials in Egypt. Design/methodology/approach To fulfill the purpose of this paper, the quantitative methodology is used, based on a sample of 302 senior officials in Egypt to obtain the data. Findings The paper found that the use of AI has improved the candidate’s experience, through superior screening compared to traditional recruitment. According to participants’ perceptions, they recognized the benefits of AI in the implementation of merit criteria in employment, but they doubted the fairness of the selection, with the possibility of coders deliberately inserting their biases into AI’s algorithms. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this paper is the focus on the public sector, within the Egyptian context. Due to time constraints and the scope of the paper, the authors did not conduct a comparative analysis across multiple sectors. The findings offer valuable insights into the use of AI in the implementation of merit criteria in employment. Practical implications This paper provides insights for the responsible for employment for emphasizing the benefits of AI adoption while underscoring careful and ethical implementation. Originality/value This paper addresses the research gap surrounding the impact of AI on the implementation of merit criteria in employment, in relation to the scarcity of the academic literature. Furthermore, due to the exploratory nature of the paper, it opens the door to academic research, both quantitative and qualitative.