When AI first started popping up in our industry, my first thought was, "Great another distraction."

I've worked with staffing firms for years. I know the pressure they're under to move fast, deliver for clients, and stay profitable in a business where speed and relationships matter more than anything. So when people started talking about AI like it was the next big thing, I wasn't exactly sold.

Most of the firms I talk to weren't either.

"We're already using AI," they'd say - meaning, someone on the team was using ChatGPT to clean up emails.

And that was about it.

The truth is, I was in the same boat.

I'm not a tech guy. I'm not into social media. I don't take selfies. I've never asked ChatGPT to write me a poem, and yes - my kids had to show me how to unmute on Zoom more than once.

So when I first heard about Anna, our AI recruiting assistant, I was skeptical.

Because staffing is a people business. Clients want fast turnaround. Recruiters need to be on the phone, building relationships, filling roles. The last thing anyone wants is a tool that slows them down or makes things more complicated.

But here's what I started to notice

Our recruiters at PSG were using Anna - and something changed.

The ones who leaned in weren't drowning in follow-up anymore. They weren't spending half their day chasing paperwork or wondering if candidates had even seen the message.

Anna was doing that for them.

- She reaches out to candidates within minutes

- She has real phone conversations - screens them, qualifies them, answers questions

- She follows up when people drop off

- She pushes the right candidates forward at the right time

And suddenly, our recruiters had time back. Not so they could slow down - so they could speed up where it matters.

That's when it hit me.

Staffing firms don't need AI to take over.

They need it to clear the noise - to automate what can be automated, so recruiters can focus on what actually grows the business.

And that's exactly what Anna does.

If you're leading a staffing team, and your recruiters are spending more time chasing paperwork than they are closing deals, I get it. I've been there with a lot of clients. And I used to think AI wasn't the answer either.

In Part 2, I'll share how firms we work with are using Anna in simple, scalable ways - and seeing real impact fast.

I'd love to hear your feedback. Feel free to connect with me at bwilliams@psgglobal.com.