Chad Markey, a medical student from Texas, found himself in an unusual position during his final year of medical school. While his peers were preparing for interviews and residencies, he was alone at home, researching Discord groups about residency applications.

The problem? He hadn't received any interview invitations or rejection letters—only a series of rejections that puzzled him. With his academic achievements and glowing recommendations, Markey suspected something else might be at play: artificial intelligence (AI).

His suspicions were based on a potential error in his Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE), where he had ‘voluntarily’ taken three leaves of absence due to illness. This detail, Markey feared, could have triggered an AI screening tool that judges applications.

The issue isn't unique to Markey; many job seekers today wonder if AI filters are to blame for their lack of opportunities. A hiring platform CEO described it as a 'doom loop,' with HR departments relying on more AI while applicants struggle against its automated barriers.

Markey's quest to understand the AI system turned into an obsession, spending months writing emails and code in his pursuit. His journey highlights how deeply embedded AI has become in our modern job search processes, raising questions about transparency and fairness.