Google revises its recruitment process to respond to increasing concerns concerning the abusive use of artificial intelligence in online interviews. The director general Sundar Pichai confirmed that the company reintroduced at least one cycle of interviews in person, marking a passage of virtual hiring practices which became standard during the pandemic.
The decision comes as fears come up that candidates use AI tools to obtain an unjust advantage in remote interviews. During a recent town hall, Pichai recognized the challenges, declaring: “Since we all work hybrid, I think it is worth thinking about a fraction of interviews in person. I think it will help the two candidates understand Google’s culture and I think it’s good for both parties. ”
The concerns were raised for the first time earlier this year when a Google employee stressed the problem of cheating compatible in the interviews. Brian NGO, vice-president of Google recruitment, then admitted that if virtual interviews reduced hiring times up to two weeks, they did not have authenticity and cultural information provided by face-to-face interactions.
Google’s decision reflects a broader response from the industry. Companies in all sectors report high rates of alleged use of AI in recruitment, some believing that more than half of the candidates can use unauthorized tools during assessments.
In response, companies tighten the processes. Anthropic explicitly prohibits the use of AI during applications, while Amazon now requires that candidates confirm that they will not deploy these tools. Cisco and McKinsey have restored interviews in person, and Deloitte has already reintroduced face-to-face meetings for its higher education program in the United Kingdom.
The resurgence of interview models in person and hybrid highlights a distance from fully distant recruitment, because employers prioritize authenticity, cultural adjustment and a more precise assessment of the skills of candidates.
