Meta allows AI use in some coding job interviews to mirror real-world work

Meta is introducing a pilot program allowing job candidates to use AI assistants during coding interviews, marking a shift in how the company evaluates technical skills. The move, confirmed by the company to Business Insider, aims to align the hiring process with real-world developer workflows while reducing the risk of AI-driven cheating. A post on Meta’s internal message board titled “AI-Enabled Interviews” outlined the initiative, stating it reflects the “developer environment that our future employees will work in” and makes reliance on large language models (LLMs) less effective for applicants. The company is currently recruiting “mock candidates” from its own workforce to test the approach, though the specific questions and tools remain under development. Meta’s decision contrasts with policies at some of its tech peers. For example, Amazon has instructed recruiters to disqualify applicants who use AI tools during interviews, while Anthropic initially banned AI assistants but later reversed its stance. The company’s spokesperson emphasized that the new process is designed to “help engineers with their day-to-day work” and that AI tools will be tested to ensure they support, rather than undermine, the hiring process. “Humans talking to humans will always be part of the interview process,” the spokesperson added, noting that the change does not replace traditional assessments but complements them. This development follows CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s public remarks in January, where he predicted that by 2025, AI systems could function as “midlevel engineers,” capable of writing code and assisting with technical tasks. The shift underscores Meta’s broader push to integrate AI into its operations, including recruitment. Internal documents obtained by Business Insider revealed the company plans to use AI for automating aspects of the hiring process, such as generating coding test prompts and evaluating technical skills. However, Meta clarified that human involvement remains critical, with AI serving as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement. The policy change highlights the evolving role of AI in professional settings. By permitting AI assistance during interviews, Meta seeks to assess candidates’ ability to collaborate with technology, mirroring the tools they will use in their roles. The internal message board post acknowledged that the approach is experimental, with feedback from employees shaping its final form. While the company has not specified which roles or teams will participate in the pilot, the move signals a growing acceptance of AI as a collaborative resource in both work and hiring environments. Meta’s strategy also addresses concerns about fairness and skill evaluation. By integrating AI into interviews, the company aims to create a more realistic assessment of technical proficiency, as modern software development increasingly relies on AI-powered tools. However, the initiative raises questions about how to balance AI’s utility with the need to evaluate fundamental coding abilities. The spokesperson noted that the goal is to “match candidates with open roles more quickly” while maintaining the integrity of the hiring process. This approach reflects a broader industry trend as AI reshapes workforce dynamics. While some companies remain cautious about AI’s role in recruitment, Meta’s experiment suggests a willingness to adapt to technological advancements. The outcome of the pilot could influence how other organizations evaluate technical candidates, particularly as AI tools become more prevalent in coding and problem-solving tasks. For now, Meta’s program remains in early stages, with details about its scope and implementation expected to emerge in the coming weeks.