Meaning ● AI Bias in Hiring, within the SMB sector, materializes when automated recruitment systems exhibit prejudice, potentially discriminating against certain candidate demographics during screening or selection. ● This bias, stemming from flawed algorithms or unrepresentative training data, directly impacts SMB’s growth trajectory by limiting the talent pool and potentially leading to legal repercussions and reputational damage. Automation tools, inadvertently perpetuating these biases, can obstruct SMBs’ efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, hindering long-term innovation and market reach. Consequently, the successful implementation of AI in hiring for SMBs demands diligent bias detection, mitigation strategies, and a commitment to equitable recruitment practices to ensure sustainable and fair organizational development. ● Mitigation efforts within SMBs may involve auditing algorithms, ensuring diverse training datasets, and incorporating human oversight into the AI-driven recruitment process, maintaining transparency and accountability.