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Rubén Andrés
WriterWriter at Xataka. I've been working remotely for more than a decade and I'm a strong advocate of technology as a way to improve our lives. Full-time addict of black, sugar-free coffee.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
The line between genius and deception is becoming increasingly blurred, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence. A notable example of this is seen in the realm of job interviews.
One student successfully passed a technical interview with Amazon by using AI. The incident has had major consequences. First, someone reported him to his university. Second, he launched a company to help others use AI for job interviews. Third, Google decided to stop conducting remote job interviews due to the growing use of AI among candidates.
This situation has sparked a debate about whether using AI in a job interview is cheating or simply leveraging the tools available to solve a problem.
Entrepreneur or Cheater?
According to CNBC, Chungin Lee is a 21-year-old computer science student at Columbia University who has secured job interviews with major tech companies such as Amazon, Meta, and TikTok.
During a remote technical interview with Amazon, Lee used an AI tool he had developed himself. This tool allowed him to easily answer programming questions posed by the recruiter. “Everyone programs nowadays with the help of AI,” he told the outlet.
Technical tests are a prerequisite for accessing engineering positions at large tech companies. As such, Lee felt compelled to prepare thoroughly, as evidenced by his profile on LeetCode, a training website.
Gizmodo reports that the preparation for the interview was one of Lee’s most challenging experiences. He described it as “one of the most miserable experiences I’ve ever had while programming.” He added, “I felt like I had to do it. It’s something I needed to do for a big tech job, and there was just so much to learn, so much to memorize, and so many random problems I could expect to have been thrown at me.”
According to Lee, the problems presented during technical interviews are highly unlikely. He explained that the whole process is more like a performance where the interviewee pretends to be unfamiliar with the problem, even though they’ve already studied it and memorized the solution. “They’re also just not representative at all of what you do as a programmer on the job,” the student said.
Lee used a tool he had developed to pass his interview with Amazon successfully. The outcome was positive, and he received a job offer from the company. However, he ultimately declined it because the interview served merely as a test for his tool. As evidence, he posted a video of the recorded interview on his YouTube account (now unavailable) and the tool’s website.
A Tip-Off and Disciplinary Action
Days after his technical interview, Lee received a notification from Columbia University informing him of a disciplinary hearing that the institution had initiated against him. He shared the letter on his X profile.
According to Gizmodo, the university expressed its disapproval of using AI tools as support during these technical tests, categorizing it as cheating.
“Amazon has a long history of working with Columbia Engineering… and it deeply concerns us to see situations like this occur. We trust in Columbia to take proper action with regards to this student, and we hope to continue this long-standing partnership,” the institution said in its complaint.
Instead of feeling worried about the measures being taken against him, Lee has made the tool available for other students and candidates to use in their interviews.
Face-to-Face Interviews at Tech Companies
As the use of AI tools during interviews becomes more common, major tech companies are considering a return to face-to-face technical interviews.
CNBC reported that during a recent meeting with employees, Google CEO Sundar Pichai suggested that hiring managers should consider implementing in-person interviews. This request is noteworthy, especially since Pichai recently acknowledged that around 25% of Google’s code is generated by AI.
AI is increasingly integrated into hiring processes. Recruiters use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter resumes of the most suitable candidates automatically. Companies also train candidates with ChatGPT-based programs. Meanwhile, interviewees like Lee use AI in remote interviews.
This trend has sparked a debate on social media about the ethics of using AI tools during interviews. Some argue that using these tools is acceptable as long as it’s transparent, suggesting that it demonstrates a candidate’s resourcefulness in solving problems.
“I remember once, over a decade ago, saying in an interview ‘I don't know that specific command but there’s Google for what we don’t know.’ I was told I was the first person to give the ‘I’ll google it’ answer and that it was a totally valid answer,” one user shared on Reddit, drawing a parallel between using AI and searching the Internet.
In contrast, others argue that the technical tests aim to assess programming skills, meaning that relying on AI undermines the integrity of the assessment.
Image | LinkedIn Sales Solutions
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