Using AI to Empower Recruiters, Not Replace Them with Joseph Burns

Joseph Burns, CEO of Lupa, joins Denise Chaffin to share why the future of hiring isn't about replacing recruiters with AI, but empowering them. Drawing from personal experience building and shutting down an AI recruiter, Joseph walks through the trade-offs, risks, and realities of automation in TA. He shares how Lupa uses AI to enhance decision-making, how cultural context matters in global hiring, and why his team blends human empathy with tech-powered efficiency. This episode delivers a grounded look at AI’s limits—and what thoughtful innovation really looks like.

Key Episode Segments:

• AI Isn't the Solution—It's a Tool: Joseph shares why his AI recruiting startup failed and how candidates rejected being interviewed by AI, especially top talent.

• Augmentation Over Automation: At Lupa, AI is used to support recruiters with better processes, scorecards, and prep—not to replace the human element.

• Cultural Intelligence in Global Hiring: Joseph explains why Latin America can’t be treated as a monolith and how onboarding with cultural understanding leads to better outcomes.

• Tech Stack Strategy: Lupa’s success comes from blending thoughtful AI with strong personal branding, categorizing prospects, and engaging meaningfully via LinkedIn.

• Caution Over Hype: Joseph predicts a swing back from AI recruiting hype as companies realize the real risks—negative selection bias and shallow assessments.