Google CEO Sundar Pichai has revealed that the company will reintroduce in-person interview rounds for engineering and programming roles, responding to growing incidents of AI-assisted cheating in virtual assessments.
Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast, Pichai stated:
“We are making sure we’ll introduce at least one round of in-person interviews for people, just to make sure the fundamentals are there.”
He emphasized that widespread virtual testing has been compromised by candidates using AI tools off-camera during technical evaluations, sparking concern among employees and hiring managers.
Why Google Is Reverting to Physical Assessments
- Mounting Cheating Concerns: Internal feedback at Google highlighted that over 50% of remote technical interviews were suspicious, prompting teams to question candidates more deeply.
- Industry-wide Movement: The problem is not unique to Google. Companies like Amazon, Cisco, McKinsey, and Deloitte are similarly reintroducing in-person interviews as a countermeasure to ensure skill authenticity.
- Balancing Efficiency with Integrity: While virtual interviews are faster and more scalable, Pichai noted they fall short in proving essential competencies that can be better evaluated in a controlled, in-person setting.
Broader Ramifications for Tech Hiring
Google’s move signals a broader industry shift toward hybrid hiring models combining AI-powered assessments with human-led evaluation to preserve recruitment integrity. It’s a tacit acknowledgment that human judgment remains essential, especially when it comes to assessing creativity, collaboration, and nuanced technical understanding.
