Artificial Intelligence (AI) has permeated virtually every industry, revolutionizing processes and creating an array of novel tools. In the realm of software engineering, tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT and GitHub's Copilot have been groundbreaking. These AI-powered tools are adept at writing code, making predictions, automating tasks, and even engaging in natural language conversations. While their application and efficacy are impressive, a question arises: should we allow or ban these AI tools during the software engineering interview process?
The Argument for Allowing AI Tools
Proponents of allowing AI tools during interviews argue that they mirror real-world situations. In the professional world, a software engineer will invariably have access to and use such tools. It is their effective use of these resources that contribute to their efficiency and productivity. The software engineering field is less about rote knowledge and more about problem-solving and innovation. AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can assist in mundane tasks, thus freeing up time for engineers to tackle more complex issues that demand human creativity and ingenuity.
Moreover, AI tools could also serve as an interesting parameter to assess a candidate's ability to navigate and use state-of-the-art tools. Can the candidate use these AI tools to enhance their productivity? Can they work symbiotically with AI, leveraging it to solve intricate problems more effectively? Their ability to harness AI's power could give insights into their potential performance in an increasingly AI-integrated future.
The Argument for Banning AI Tools
On the flip side, critics argue that using AI tools during an interview could mask a candidate's actual skills. AI completer tools like Copilot can potentially write significant portions of code, and if used during an interview, it becomes difficult to discern the candidate's expertise from the AI's suggestions.
Interviews are designed to gauge the depth of a candidate's knowledge, their problem-solving skills, and their ability to write clean, efficient code. The use of AI tools could offer a false representation of these abilities. It's also essential to evaluate how well a candidate can code without assistance, as it directly speaks to their fundamental knowledge and understanding.
Furthermore, part of the evaluation process is understanding how a candidate thinks and approaches a problem. With AI tools, the unique thought process of the candidate might be overshadowed by the AI's suggestions.
Striking a Balance
The goal of an interview is to evaluate a candidate's skills and potential accurately. If AI tools are to be allowed, they should be introduced in a controlled manner. For example, the interview could be divided into sections - one where the use of AI tools is permitted, demonstrating how effectively the candidate can work with these resources, and another where the candidate must rely solely on their knowledge and skills.
Alternatively, interviewers could create AI-specific problem-solving scenarios. Candidates could be asked to review AI-generated code, fix AI-made mistakes, or identify where an AI tool could optimize the solution.
Conclusion
The question of whether to allow or ban AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot during software engineering interviews is a complex one. It reflects the larger, ongoing conversation about the role of AI in the workforce. Both perspectives offer valid points that deserve consideration.
However, for the time being, we would advise you to forbid the usage of such tools during the interview process so that you can better assess the skills of the candidates with the current interview models that you use. This way you will keep the continuity of your recruitment process and assess the candidates from this year with the same criteria as those from the previous year. In the long run, this will change, but we need time to redesign and update all aspects of the process so that we achieve an effective recruitment process.