In response to the increasing sophistication of AI and its impact on the integrity of online hiring, Google is modifying its recruitment process. The tech giant is reintroducing in-person interviews to combat the use of AI-powered tools by candidates to gain an unfair advantage during virtual interviews. This decision aims to ensure a more authentic assessment of candidates’ abilities. The move follows widespread adoption of virtual interviews in Silicon Valley, which initially boosted efficiency but opened the door to potential misuse of AI.
Google executives acknowledged the problem during an internal meeting. Brian Ong, Google’s VP of Recruiting, noted that while online interviews helped reduce hiring timelines, they lacked the depth of in-person assessments. He emphasized the need for at least one round of one-to-one interviews, especially for roles involving practical assessments like coding challenges. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, emphasized the importance of this approach to ensure that candidates possess the necessary fundamental skills. Google’s move is indicative of a wider trend, with many other companies also concerned about the use of AI tools to assist in virtual interviews.