
Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring? EP 758: Extracting Real Value From AI In TA
Jan 9, 2026
In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Kestenbaum, Managing Director at AMS, dives into the future of AI in talent acquisition. He emphasizes that simply purchasing AI tools isn't enough; organizations must focus on reskilling and workforce planning to unlock real value. Kestenbaum also highlights the shift away from traditional resumes, proposing a need for richer candidate contexts. Additionally, he discusses the emerging role of blockchain for identity verification and predicts an increase in hiring velocity as skills change rapidly.
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Workforce Change Is The AI Bottleneck
- Companies can't extract AI cost savings without continuous workforce transformation.
- AI reduces tasks, so organisations must constantly evolve roles and skills to realise value.
Staffing Firm Scaled Around AI Data Tagging
- Jonathan describes Merkur's rapid rise placing AI-related data-tagging talent.
- He notes they scaled by targeting a new niche skill and raised a very large valuation quickly.
Blockchain's Practical Role: Identity
- Blockchain's strongest near-term use is identity verification, not cryptocurrency.
- Talent leaders need solutions to detect fraud, deepfakes and tie applicants to real identities.
