Mitigating Disability Bias in Hiring: The Role of Inclusion-Focused Generative AI in Complex HR Decisions

Abstract

This research investigates how inclusion-focused generative AI (GAI), designed with diversity, fairness, and inclusion principles, mitigates disability bias in hiring—particularly under complex, cognitively demanding conditions. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, two experiments with HR professionals (N = 117; 238) compared standard, inclusion-focused, and control conditions. Inclusion-focused GAI significantly reduced bias by emphasizing job-relevant competencies and lowering psychological distance. The study introduces a fairness-oriented AI design that advances accountability and inclusion in HR systems, offering implications for equitable hiring, bias auditing, and the strategic use of ethical AI in talent acquisition.