Bias is inherent in companies' hiring processes. And the use of artificial intelligence to recruit candidates has not eliminated that.

As such, at the beginning of the year, HR tech firm Arena Analytics formed the first-of-its-kind AI Ethics Advisory Board. The external board was born out of the company's commitment to "reducing bias and helping organizations to fairly hire, promote, and manage their workforce."

In Arena's announcement of the advisory board, board chair John Sumser says, "AI in the HR world is a particularly important arena. Tools that evaluate, recommend, and directly impact human beings are different than tools that recommend products or automate processes." He added, "A much higher ethical standard is required when the objects of AI are human."

According to Arena, the board comprises advisors and experts from a host of industries including academia, ethics, and tech. Board members will provide practical guidance and ethical input as the company develops and deploys new technologies into the labor market.

"With the insights, questions, and counsel of this advisory board, we can ensure we are grappling effectively with the numerous ethical and moral questions that inevitably arise from these kinds of leaps in technology," explains Arena CEO Michael Rosenbaum.