AI in Interviews: Why Meta Allows It While Amazon Bans It, and What It Means for Candidates
By Cheatproof.ai Team | September 5, 2025
The use of artificial intelligence during interviews has become one of the most debated topics in recruiting. Companies are striving to balance realistic skill assessments with maintaining a "pure" evaluation process. While some embrace new practices, others enforce a complete ban. A clear example is the contrasting approaches of Meta and Amazon.
Meta: Flexible Approach for Technical Roles
Meta, actively advancing its AI initiatives, allows candidates to use tools like code assistants during interviews for certain engineering positions (backend, data engineering, infrastructure development). According to TechRadar (July 2025), the company believes this mirrors real-world working conditions, as programmers regularly interact with AI.
- Candidates can use code suggestion tools but must explain the logic of their solutions step-by-step.
- Interviewers focus on the ability to think critically, debug errors, and combine AI-generated ideas with personal expertise.
This format evaluates not only technical proficiency but also the ability to collaborate with AI, which Meta now considers a core engineering competency.
Amazon: Strict Ban at All Stages
In contrast, Amazon adheres to a "clean slate" principle. According to ITPro (March 2025), the company prohibits AI assistance in all hiring stages, from online assessments to final interviews.
- Interviewers are trained to spot unusual pauses, glances at screens, or "overly polished" responses.
- Emphasis is placed on deep technical knowledge and Amazon's leadership principles, which are hard to assess if candidates rely on pre-generated solutions.
This approach minimizes the risk of dishonest practices but may feel less realistic given the widespread use of AI tools in engineering work.
Pros and Cons of the Strategies
| Strategy | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | Realistically reflects daily work, fosters "human + AI" skills, reduces candidate stress | Risks overrating those who "put on a good show" but lack deep understanding |
| Amazon | Ensures authentic skill assessment, maintains a rigorous selection standard | May deter candidates accustomed to using AI; process feels less aligned with reality |
What It Means for Candidates
- In companies like Meta, candidates must use AI thoughtfully, demonstrating code comprehension and explaining solution logic.
- At Amazon and similar firms, success hinges on thorough preparation and a focus on fundamental knowledge.
- In all cases, understanding the company's AI policy beforehand is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.
Conclusion
There is no universal standard yet. Meta integrates AI into hiring, while Amazon upholds traditional rigor. Companies will continue to seek a balance between realistic processes and transparent evaluations. For candidates, the key is to adapt flexibly to the format and authentically showcase their skills.
Sources: TechRadar, ITPro (March 2025).