Amazon's machine-learning specialists uncovered a big problem: their new recruiting engine did not like women. The team had been building computer programs since 2014 to review job applicants' resumes with the aim of mechanizing the search for top talent, five people familiar with the effort told Reuters. But the firm was ultimately forced to end the project after it found the system had taught itself to prefer male candidates over females. Amazon was forced to shut down an experimental hiring tool after it was found to discriminate against female candidates. Amazon had been building computer programs since 2014 to review job applicants' resumes with the aim of mechanizing the search for top talent The experimental hiring tool used artificial intelligence to give job candidates scores ranging from one to five stars - much like shoppers rate products on Amazon.