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Google is returning to more traditional hiring methods, including in-person job interviews. This is following the concerns of many employees on the virtual recruitment processes using AI-enabled cheating. CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed the move in a recent internal town hall, saying he wants to make sure hybrid will help create fairness and preserve the culture at Google.
Employees directly challenged the leadership on the matter, demanding the restoration of controlled on-site interviews. Internal documents obtained by CNBC show that employees have become increasingly frustrated as they feel that virtual interviews no longer capture the skills of the candidates. Pichai admitted that it is difficult, as face-to-face interviews will strike the right balance between efficiency and authenticity.
During the February town hall, one of the employees requested that the company consider bringing candidates to the offices despite the budget. There were several internal conversations that expressed concerns that AI tools are compromising the integrity of hiring. Recruiters have reported an increasing number of candidates using generative AI to provide answers to technical and problem-solving questions.
Brian Ong, Google vice president of recruiting, acknowledged the company has more work to do in terms of how it has to change to accommodate the increased use of AI in the interview process. Virtual interviews are quicker, but he advised keeping trust in the process. Pichai further stated that face-to-face interviews not only ensure the competence of candidates but also provide the applicants with an opportunity to get familiar with the Google working atmosphere.
Google is not the only company that has to face the impact of AI hiring. Ong argued that competing companies are also struggling with the same problem since the answers to the interviews provided by AI are increasingly more difficult to identify. In the technology sector, companies are considering convenience over credibility so that the standards of recruitment can continue to be high.
