The TARAI Index is a public database of over 100 HR technology products used in recruiting and talent acquisition. It allows users to: 

Explore what an AI automates. For example,  does a tool simply automate scheduling, or does it rank candidates? 

Assess AI clarity. For example, does a company clearly describe how their tool deploys AI, or is the description superficial or incomprehensible?  

Compare tools across the hiring funnel. From sourcing and screening to interviewing and background checks.

Identify product claims and assumptions. What promises do vendors make, and what underlying ideas about efficiency, bias, or candidate "fit" are embedded? 

AI is deeply embedded in the technologies powering hiring and recruitment. Applicant tracking systems, sourcing platforms, and interview tools increasingly rely on AI to filter, rank, or even communicate with candidates. Yet, for many recruiters, these tools are black boxes. They promise efficiency but rarely explain how decisions are made—or what assumptions about hiring are built into the technology. This lack of clarity matters. 

Despite years of research into how humans interact with technology on the job, most studies have focused on general trends rather than the specific transparency needs of HR practitioners. Existing tools like applicant tracking systems, automated interview platforms, and candidate screening technology play a direct role in deciding who advances through the recruiting funnel. With governments and regulators now labeling hiring technologies as “high risk,” there’s growing scrutiny, but many regulations miss how these decisions are actually made through a mix of human and machine input. This makes clear, profession-specific transparency especially urgent for recruiting teams.