Google CEO Sundar Pichai: In-Person Interviews Reintroduced to Ensure Hiring Quality

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Google is bringing back face-to-face job interviews after growing concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are being used to cheat in virtual hiring processes. The move marks a sharp reversal from pandemic-era recruitment practices that favored speed and convenience over in-person verification.

The issue came to light during a February internal town hall, where employees pressed leadership about widespread cheating. According to audio obtained by CNBC, one employee asked: “Can we get onsite job interviews back? There are many email threads about this topic. If budget is a constraint, can we at least bring candidates into a controlled environment?”

Brian Ong, Google’s vice president of recruiting, admitted the company faces a challenge. “We definitely have more work to do to integrate how AI is now more prevalent in the interview process,” he said, noting that while virtual interviews save about two weeks, they also raise integrity concerns.

CEO Sundar Pichai supported a hybrid approach, emphasizing the importance of cultural fit and authenticity. “Given we all work hybrid, I think it’s worth having some fraction of the interviews in person. It will help candidates better understand Google’s culture and benefit both sides,” Pichai said.

The debate reflects a broader trend across the tech industry, where companies are rethinking hiring methods as AI tools grow increasingly sophisticated. Ong noted, “This is an issue all of our competitor companies are looking at,” highlighting an industry-wide push to balance efficiency with trust in recruitment.