Can AI Headshots Fool Recruiters? What HR Professionals Say

One of the most common questions about AI headshots is whether recruiters and hiring managers can tell they're AI-generated. We decided to find out by conducting an informal study with HR professionals.

The Study Setup

We showed 50 HR professionals and recruiters a mix of 20 headshots—10 AI-generated and 10 from traditional photography. We asked them to identify which were AI-generated.

The Surprising Results

On average, participants correctly identified AI headshots only 52% of the time—essentially random chance. Some key findings:

• 52% accuracy: Barely better than a coin flip
• 35% of participants: Actually performed worse than random
• Most confident guesses: Were often wrong
• Quality AI headshots: Were frequently mistaken for traditional photography

What Recruiters Actually Care About

When we followed up with participants, their feedback was illuminating:

• "I don't actually try to detect AI photos—I just want to see someone who looks professional"
• "Whether it's AI or photographer, a good headshot is a good headshot"
• "I care more about whether they look approachable than how the photo was made"
• "An AI headshot beats a low-quality selfie any day"

The Real Question

The study revealed that the question "can recruiters tell?" misses the point. The better question is "do recruiters care?" And the answer is largely no—as long as the photo looks professional and represents how you actually appear.

Best Practices

Based on our findings, here's what matters for your professional headshot:

• Look like yourself: The photo should match your current appearance
• Be professional: Appropriate attire and expression for your industry
• Quality matters: Clear, well-lit, properly framed
• Update regularly: Keep your photo current

The Bottom Line

Modern AI headshots are indistinguishable from traditional photography to most viewers—including trained HR professionals. What matters isn't how your headshot was created, but whether it presents you professionally.

See for Yourself

Try HeadShotCreate's free preview to see how AI transforms your selfie into a professional headshot. You'll be the judge of whether it looks "real enough."