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AI is everywhere – from auto-generating emails to summarising meetings, it’s hard to escape. A new trend has now emerged in hiring: people using AI chatbots to answer questions in real time during interviews. It may seem clever, but it’s worth pausing to consider the implications.
Interviewers should be aware of some tell-tale signs that AI might be at play:
- On Teams or Google Meet calls, an individual pauses longer than expected before delivering a structured, polished answer.
- Sentences sound almost textbook-like, slightly formal, overly polished, or phrased almost too perfectly.
- Eye movement often scans across the screen, and the person proceeds to the next sentence quickly, without the reflective pause typical in a normal conversation.
- Answers sometimes stray from the question originally asked.
- People glance away from the camera or show other behaviours suggesting they are consulting something.
It’s not unreasonable to see why people might try this. Interviews can be stressful, and having a little help might feel like a safety net. But interviews are about more than just the right answers – they’re designed to see how a person thinks, solves problems, and communicates in the moment. Relying on AI in real time can make it harder for interviewers to get a sense of an individual’s unique perspective and strengths.
As seen below, Amazon feels that using AI in interviews is an unfair advantage, and nobody wants this in a recruitment process. Their policy is:
- GenAI is not allowed during interviews.
- Teleprompter-style tools that give real-time prompts are considered an unfair advantage.
- Interviewers are trained to notice behaviours like typing while answering or overly rehearsed responses.
The goal isn’t to punish people – it’s to make sure interviews reflect genuine skills and thought processes.
Through my network on LinkedIn, I see a shared perspective: using AI mid-interview can diminish credibility. Interviews are a chance to connect, human to human. Using AI to prepare beforehand is completely fine and often helpful but relying on it during the conversation itself can change the dynamic.
There are people who are very good at what they do, and their instinct to use AI often comes from a desire to perform at their best. Still, the most impactful interviews are those where your authentic self shines. Pauses, imperfect phrasing, and even small mistakes show thoughtfulness and authenticity – things no AI can replicate.
The takeaway: AI can be a great prep tool, but the interview itself is your moment to show you. Be human and let your voice guide the conversation.