Assignment:
175 words each
Post 1:
Audio and verbal communications can influence hiring by amplifying biases related to speech, accents, and socioeconomic status. In hiring, evaluators often judge candidates quickly from short clips, linking speech traits to competence. A Yale study found managers could gauge socioeconomic backgrounds in seconds, often favoring higher-class candidates-leading to higher salaries and better roles (Cummings, 2019). This reinforces inequality, disadvantaging applicants from diverse backgrounds and limiting economic mobility and diversity. In business calls, misunderstandings can occur without visual cues, harming trust, but tone and inflection can build rapport if biases are managed. Overall, unchecked biases in audio communication can lead to poor decisions, less inclusive teams, and strained relationships, underscoring the need for awareness training.
Avatar technology can help reduce bias in hiring by concealing physical traits such as gender, race, or age, so that the focus is on skills and qualifications in virtual settings. Using virtual reality, users can take on avatars of different backgrounds, which encourages empathy and helps break down stereotypes. For example, using a female avatar has been shown to make men more likely to prefer female candidates for STEM roles, helping address gender bias and encourage fairer evaluations (Crone & Kallen, 2022). In business, avatars make virtual interactions more uniform, reducing appearance-based prejudices and supporting fair global teamwork. This builds trust, promotes diversity, and sparks innovation, though it's important to monitor potential biases in algorithms. Overall, avatars are a forward-thinking tool for creating more inclusive practices. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Crone, C. L., & Kallen, R. W. (2022, June 7). Interview with an avatar: Comparing online and virtual reality perspective taking for gender bias in stem hiring decisions. PloS one.
Cummings, M. (2019, October 21). Yale study shows class bias in hiring based on few seconds of speech. Yale News.
Post 2:
Verbal communication, in cyber interactions, play a critical role in assisting individuals and organizations, that increasingly rely on calls, videos and audio platforms like, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Skype. Tone, pace, clarity, inflection and confidence become primary indicators of professionalism and competence in audio or verbal only communications. The listeners may rely more heavily on vocal characteristics to interpret credibility and expertise when the conversation lacks visual cues. This could have a positive impact during a hiring or business connections when the candidates communicate clearly and confidently, on the other hand in can unintentionally introduce biases. Speech patterns, dialects or tone may trigger unconscious biases, influencing perceptions like education or cultural "fit". This could result to hiring decisions or partnerships misevaluated.
A way to minimize biases in the hiring process and business relationships would be utilizing avatar technology. By using customizable digital representation rather than real time video or audio that is tied to physical appearances organizations can reduce judgements based on unconscious biases. The participants can interact with avatars systems which are structured virtual environments based on ideas and performance rather that appearance. Baake et al, (2025), did research to show simplified avatars offer a level of reality that makes things trustworthy and relatable, while simultaneously eliminating biases and making things personalized. Moving forward organizations can design communication practices that prioritize equity rather than reinforce hidden prejudices. Future avatar technologies can be used to promote fairness , with clear evaluation criteria, structured interviews and bias training communication designs built into the systems.
Reference:
Baake, J., Schmitt, J. B., & Metag, J. (2025). Balancing realism and trustworthiness: AI avatars in science communication. JCOM: Journal of Science Communication, 24(2), COV1.