Exploring the Impact of Real-Time AI Assistance in Technical Interviews

In the rapidly evolving landscape of software development, Artificial Intelligence tools are becoming increasingly prevalent and sophisticated. Recently, I experienced a compelling example of this during a senior React developer interview, which highlighted both the potential and challenges of integrating AI assistance into technical hiring processes.

The Scenario

I scheduled a remote interview with a candidate applying for a senior React position. To gauge their problem-solving skills, I provided a link to a CodePen containing a simple debugging exercise involving a three-line iterative function. I asked the candidate to share their screen while working through the task.

Unexpectedly, as the interview commenced, an overlay appeared on the shared screen. This wasn’t a typical screen-sharing anomaly—it was a real-time transcription tool providing a continuous voice-to-text conversion of my spoken instructions and questions. More remarkably, it was generating summarized bullet points, offering hints, and even searching for definitions of technical terms I used during our conversation. Behind the scenes, it was analyzing the code on the screen as well, all in real time—resembling a scene straight out of science fiction.

The Candidate’s Reaction and Consequences

Upon noticing the overlay, I inquired about its nature. The candidate appeared visibly unsettled, attempting to dismiss or hide the tool without explicitly acknowledging it. Their response was somewhat evasive, hinting at possible familiarity with voice assistants like Siri but not confirming anything specific.

This encounter seemed to undermine the candidate’s confidence, leading to a less effective warm-up session. Their performance was noticeably affected, and they struggled to complete the exercise. Furthermore, it became evident that they had been covertly using AI assistance to answer questions—such as explaining methods like .map()—rather than relying solely on their own knowledge or consulting documentation openly.

Implications for Technical Hiring

This experience raises important questions about the future of technical interviews:

• Use of AI as a Hidden Aid: Candidates leveraging AI tools covertly can distort assessment outcomes, making it challenging to gauge their true capabilities.

• Integrity and Fairness: The clandestine use of these tools raises ethical concerns and could undermine trust in the hiring process.

• Evolving Interview Techniques: As AI assistance becomes more seamless, traditional interview and testing methods may no longer suffice in evaluating genuine skills.

Advice for Interviewers and Candidates

To navigate this new landscape, consider the following approaches:

• Redefine Evaluation Metrics: Focus on problem-solving processes, communication skills, and reasoning rather than