Google has decided to allow applicants to use artificial intelligence (AI) in its software engineer hiring exams. As AI has become an essential tool in actual development work, the evaluation methods for hiring are also changing.
The U.S. economic media outlet Business Insider recently reported that Google is piloting a new interview process that permits the use of AI tools in the developer hiring process. The targets are junior and mid-level software engineer applicants from some teams within the U.S. According to the report, if the results are positive, the process could be expanded company-wide.
In the new process, applicants undergo a “code comprehension” evaluation. They are tasked with reading an existing code database, fixing errors, and improving performance. During this process, they can use AI tools. It has been reported that the tool applicants will use is Gemini, Google’s own AI model.
With the ability to utilize AI, the evaluation criteria have also changed. It is not just about the ability to write code directly. Evaluators will also assess what prompts applicants input into the AI, how they verify and modify the AI’s output, and their debugging skills.
Analysis suggests that this change is a natural progression, as using AI in actual development has already become routine. It means that managing AI to write code better by effectively utilizing it has become more important than just writing code well. Earlier, Google revealed that AI writes three-fourths of the new code within the company.
Other Silicon Valley companies besides Google are moving in a similar direction. Many graphic design startups like Canva and AI coding startups like Cognition are already operating hiring processes that assume the use of AI. A Cognition executive said, “Taking a coding exam without AI is like taking a math exam without a calculator.”
Originally written by: Kang Da-eun
Source: The Chosun Daily
Published on: 11 May 2026
Link to original article: Google Permits AI in Software Engineer Hiring Exams
