Google is adjusting its hiring practices due to the increasing use of AI in virtual interviews, which has raised concerns about candidates using AI to cheat. In the wake of the pandemic, virtual interviews became common practice in Silicon Valley, adopted by startups and large tech companies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. However, the rise of AI has introduced a new challenge: AI-assisted fraud during virtual hiring processes.
To tackle this issue, Google will reinstate in-person interviews to better evaluate candidates’ real-world skills. Acknowledging the issues, Google aims for a more robust and reliable assessment. Google’s Vice President of Recruiting, Brian Ong, confirmed the challenge of ensuring the integrity of virtual interviews, particularly in the face of AI-assisted cheating.
The decision to bring back in-person interviews was influenced by concerns raised during an internal town hall meeting. At least one round of face-to-face interviews will be mandatory for certain roles, particularly those involving coding challenges. Sundar Pichai emphasized the importance of having at least one round of one-to-one interaction to ensure fundamental skills are present. Google is not the only company concerned. Several other companies suspect that a significant portion of candidates use unauthorized AI tools during virtual interviews.