Google in-person interviews are making a comeback to fight AI-driven cheating in virtual assessments and restore authenticity to its hiring process

Google in-person interviews are making a strong comeback as the tech giant rethinks its hiring process amid rising concerns about artificial intelligence misuse during virtual job assessments.

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The decision, which has the full support of Google CEO Sundar Pichai, follows internal concerns that AI tools are allowing candidates to cheat, undermining the integrity of online interviews.

As virtual interviews became a norm during the pandemic, they saved time and resources—but now they may be compromising the quality of hires.

The turning point came earlier this year when employees raised red flags during an internal town hall.

According to CNBC, one Googler questioned, “Can we get onsite job interviews back? If budget is a constraint, can we at least control the environment?”

Brian Ong, Google’s Vice President of Recruiting, acknowledged the issue and admitted that while virtual interviews sped up the hiring process by nearly two weeks, they lacked depth.

“We definitely have more work to do to integrate how AI is now more prevalent in the interview process,” Ong said.

Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast in June, Sundar Pichai emphasized the need for balance.

“Given we all work hybrid, I think it’s worth thinking about some fraction of the interviews being in person,” he said.

Pichai added that in-person interviews help both the company and candidates align culturally.

He confirmed that for roles requiring hands-on skills—such as coding—at least one in-person interview round will now be mandatory.

“We are making sure we’ll introduce at least one round of in-person interviews for people, just to make sure the fundamentals are there,” he explained.

Google isn’t alone in this move. Other companies are also taking steps to curb AI-assisted cheating:

Amazon now requires candidates to formally agree not to use AI tools during interviews.
Anthropic, an AI safety firm, has completely banned AI use in hiring.
McKinsey, Deloitte, and Cisco have reinstated in-person interviews for select roles.
Deloitte UK has already reintroduced in-person sessions for graduate recruitment.

Reports suggest that over 50% of applicants in some companies may be using unauthorized AI tools during online interviews, sparking fears that virtual assessments no longer reflect real abilities.

By reintroducing face-to-face interviews, Google aims to restore authenticity and ensure that candidates are evaluated based on genuine skills.

The company sees this change as a necessary adaptation in an era where AI is both a tool and a challenge.

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As tech continues to evolve, this pivot marks a powerful statement: hiring integrity must be preserved, even if it means returning to more traditional methods.