Overview

• Google will require at least one on-site interview as part of a hybrid process, with practical roles such as coding prioritized for in-person assessment.
• The move follows a February town hall where employees pressed leadership to curb AI-assisted cheating in virtual interviews.
• Recruiting chief Brian Ong said virtual interviews are roughly two weeks faster but acknowledged the need to balance speed with authenticity.
• Pichai’s stance aligns with broader employer shifts, with Anthropic banning AI use in applications, Amazon adding no-AI attestations, and Cisco, McKinsey, and Deloitte restoring face-to-face rounds.
• Industry reports indicate some organizations suspect more than half of candidates of using unauthorized AI tools during remote hiring.