AI is everywhere. It is replacing jobs, old tools, study materials and anything that humans used to do manually. With Agentic AI knocking on the doorstep, the situation is about to change drastically. So what about job interviews? Google has concerns and, hence, after sticking with online interviews, the maker of Gemini and Android is now considering a return to in-person interviews.
Marking a change from the recruitment policies post COVID-19, Google CEO Sundar Pichai now wants to alter the interview process drastically. To prevent candidates from utilising AI for cheating and impacting the integrity of the virtual hiring process, Pichai has confirmed that Google will now host at least one round of interview in-person to allow for a genuine recruitment effort.
Google to host in-person interviews now
Back in February, it was reported that a Google employee raised the concern of AI-driven cheating in online interviews during a town hall meet. Ever since, Google’s VP of recruitment, Brian Ong, acknowledged that interviews need to be balanced with authenticity that comes from face-to-face interaction, even though online interviews cut short the process by two weeks.
Pichai then endorsed a hybrid approach, stating, “Given we all work hybrid, I think it’s worth thinking about some fraction of the interviews being in person. I think it’ll help both the candidates understand Google’s culture and I think it’s good for both sides.”
AI-cheating not just an issue for Google
It is not just Google that is concerned about the integrity of virtual interviews. Lots of other big firms and agencies are seeing more than 50 per cent of candidates suspected of using unauthorised tools during the process. This widespread issue has forced a fundamental shift in the recruitment process, as companies are now moving away from fully remote processes in favour of new anti-cheating measures.
As a result, interviewers are conducting more extensive tests and verifying candidates’ understanding of the material, all in a bid to ensure the authenticity of their skills and knowledge.
To make the interviews fair, Anthropic has declared an explicit ban on AI use during its application process. Amazon now requires candidates to formally acknowledge that they will not use unauthorised AI tools. Cisco and McKinsey are both reintroducing face-to-face meetings, a tactic already used by Deloitte, which has reinstated in-person interviews for its UK graduate program.
