Empathix unveils EMMY, a voice-led AI job search tool

Empathix has launched EMMY, a voice-led job search agent it describes as the first of its kind in New Zealand and Australia.

EMMY utilises spoken conversation rather than traditional keyword searches, CV uploads, or standard application forms. Empathix positions the tool as an alternative to conventional job boards and other search-led methods of discovering roles.

Candidate experience

EMMY emerged from discussions with job seekers who said they felt worn down by repeated searching and limited feedback. Empathix also points to the volume of applications recruiters receive for a single opening as a factor that can contribute to poor communication during hiring.

"Candidates repeatedly told us they were spending hours searching multiple job boards then applying for roles and hearing nothing back. On top of being 'Ghosted', some felt like their experience could not be adequately captured by a traditional CV. EMMY was built to give people a way to be seen and heard," said Olivia Dyet, founder and CEO of Empathix.

EMMY launched in December 2025. In January 2026, it had hundreds of conversations with candidates, according to Empathix, covering roles in technology, product, design, and customer functions.

Candidates described the experience as different from browsing listings and submitting applications without a response. Users also said the interaction felt more personal and human than traditional job boards.

How EMMY works

EMMY begins with a spoken conversation regarding a candidate's career goals and what they value in a professional role. The agent asks follow-up questions and utilises those responses to refine and narrow down search results.

According to Empathix, EMMY searches thousands of vacancies across more than 1,000 career sites every minute. The system focuses on intent, preferences, and cultural fit rather than relying solely on traditional keyword matching.

The service also offers career guidance and interview preparation. Empathix says EMMY is trained on Dyet's career experience in HR, recruitment, and employee experience design.

Platform integration

EMMY sits within the broader Empathix recruitment platform, which the company describes as an AI-assisted CV-sifting tool for recruiters. Recruiters can post roles and review potential candidates across the market, including sources such as LinkedIn, GitHub, X, and Facebook.

EMMY can also identify candidates through voice conversations and, with consent, add them to the Empathix talent pool. It then matches candidates with roles from employers that use the platform.

When EMMY identifies a strong match, Empathix says it can introduce the candidate-again with consent-to the recruiter managing the role. The company frames this as an approach that blends automation with direct interaction between candidates and hiring teams.

"The goal is not to replace recruiters, but to create space for better human relationships on both sides of the hiring equation. EMMY uses AI to reduce friction, but retain connection, and to help people access opportunities without being filtered out by algorithms that rely on key words," said Dyet.

Startmate selection

Empathix was selected as one of 10 companies from more than 1,000 applicants to take part in the Startmate Accelerator, according to the company. Dyet linked the recognition to wider changes in hiring, where automation is increasing while job seekers continue to report frustration with opaque processes.

"We're at risk of optimising hiring for efficiency alone and forgetting that employment is deeply personal and highly emotive. AI should help people feel seen and supported, not invisible or filtered," said Dyet.

Dyet has more than 15 years' experience in HR, recruitment, and employee experience design, according to Empathix, including roles at adidas and The Warehouse Group.

Market direction

Empathix is positioning EMMY as part of a broader shift in recruitment technology from search and filtering to conversational systems. Dyet said hiring outcomes will depend on how companies apply AI and how much nuance systems retain when evaluating job seekers and roles.

"There's a big difference between AI that filters people out and AI that helps them in. Emmy is built to do the second," said Dyet.

EMMY is free and publicly available, and Empathix expects adoption to grow as job seekers and employers test conversational systems alongside existing hiring processes.