In a world where AI takes center stage, tech firms like Google, Amazon and Cisco are considering new ideas for onboarding talent by letting candidates cheat. As far as Google is concerned, the firm is reintroducing in-person interviews for engineering and programming roles to combat widespread cheating with AI tools.
The move, confirmed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai, highlights a growing challenge where candidates are using AI to get through virtual technical assessments in interview processes at big tech firms. The problem has become so grave that Google employees have reportedly pushed for a return to on-site interviews.
Google brings back in-person interviews
During virtual interviews, candidates have been found to use off-camera AI tools to answer real-time coding challenges, thus making it difficult for recruiters to assess their fundamental skills properly. This has forced the company to take action by including an in-person interview round for all engineering and technical roles – the roles where Google needs to assess the talent firsthand.
Pichai addressed the issue, stating, “We are making sure [that] with the advent of AI, we still hire people who have strong computer science fundamentals and can do the job well.” He added that the company will “definitely introduce at least one round” of in-person interviews as a countermeasure.
Not a Google-only problem
The problem is not confined to Google. More than 50% of candidates in some virtual technical interviews are suspected of cheating, leading interviewers to test the candidates extensively and verify their understanding of the material. As a result, other major technology firms are also implementing new anti-cheating protocols.
Companies such as Amazon, Anthropic, Cisco, and McKinsey are taking similar steps. Anthropic now has an explicit ban on AI use during its application process. On the other hand, Amazon requires candidates to formally acknowledge that they will not use unauthorised AI tools. Cisco and McKinsey are reintroducing face-to-face meetings, whereas consulting firm Deloitte has already reinstated in-person interviews for its UK graduate program.
The move once again highlights the negatives of AI in our lives. While virtual hiring offers benefits like reduced costs and faster recruitment cycles, the integrity of the hiring process is now becoming a top priority.