AI Interviewers: Fad or the Future? Why Practicing with Simulated Scenarios Works

Artificial Intelligence is shaking up how companies hire these days. As an engineer, should you worry? We saw a rapid extinction of in-person interviews in tech, and now we are seeing the same transformation of human-led video interviews to AI assessment. You are probably wondering if this shift is permanent? Is interviewing going to lose its personal touch? How can I prepare for this shift? We see AI being used to scan resumes and run actual interviews. AI tools are becoming a big part of how recruitment works in 2025. I am here to guide you to understand the shift and what can you as an engineer do to prepare for this

The Rise of AI in Recruitment

The numbers don't lie – AI is making serious inroads into hiring processes. Projections show that by the end of 2025, roughly 76% of companies will use AI to ask interview questions. Around 63% will implement facial recognition technology, while 62% will analyze how candidates speak during interviews. This isn't just happening in tech companies, either. Take Chipotle, for example. They've implemented an AI chatbot called "Ava Cado" to streamline hiring, cutting their average time-to-hire from 12 days to just four.

Benefits of AI-Simulated Interview Practice

As more companies adopt AI for interviews, there are some genuine advantages to preparing with AI-powered mock interviews:

Personalized Feedback: 

AI can act like your personal tutor and friend during the stressful interview preparation. It's there to offer advice and suggestions when you need them most.

During my own journey of interview preparation, I discovered I get incredibly nervous during interviews. What really helped me was practicing my answers with a friend. They noticed when I used too many filler words, when I wasn't making eye contact, or when my examples weren't specific enough.

AI can play that same supportive role in your life. It doesn't judge you for practicing the same answer multiple times. It's patient, available whenever needed, and remembers what you've worked on.

Confidence Booster: 

As I mentioned, I get nervous before interviews, so I must practice behavioral rounds multiple times. Using AI to practice your interview rounds is convenient and helps build confidence. When you've rehearsed your answers several times with AI feedback, those nervous jitters fade. I've found that the more I practice with AI, the more comfortable I feel when sitting across from an actual interviewer or an AI interviewer. The AI interviewer doesn't judge if you stumble or need to restart, and that safe space for practice makes all the difference when it's time for the real thing.

Skill Development: 

Another feedback I often receive is to be concise and brief. Over the years, I have tested this skill, but getting honest and raw feedback has always been an issue. AI practice sessions give me immediate insights into when I'm rambling or adding unnecessary details. The AI points out patterns I might not notice myself - like when I use three examples where one would suffice or when I spend too much time on context rather than highlighting my specific contributions. This targeted feedback has helped me craft more impactful responses that get straight to the point without losing substance. It's like having a personal communication coach available whenever I need to refine my interview technique.

Beyond the Fad

As AI takes over the interview space, there are a few areas we still need clarity on:

Bias and Fairness Issues: 

As AI becomes a more significant part of the interview process, it's natural you have questions—and even some concerns. One of the most critical issues is bias and fairness.

It's a valid worry: if an AI system is trained on non-diverse data, it can reinforce the same problems we're trying to fix. This isn't just a technical issue—it's a human one. And it deserves more than a quick mention, so we'll dedicate a whole blog post to unpack this in depth soon.

The Human Element:  A recent survey found that 43% of Americans feel uncomfortable with AI-led interviews. If you're worried interviews are getting impersonal, I understand completely. I felt the same way when I first encountered an AI interviewer. Some products are working to make the conversation more realistic, and it's an evolving space we can follow together in this blog.

To address these challenges, companies must be transparent about "how they use AI" in their interview process and continually refine their algorithms to ensure they're fair to all candidates.

What This Means for Job Seekers

AI in recruitment isn't going away anytime soon. With technology advancing and more companies adopting these tools, AI will likely become a standard part of hiring. As clockwise reports, an average engineer spends 6.3 hours in weekly meetings and 2-3 hours interviewing. For job seekers, this means adapting to new interview formats and potentially using AI tools to prepare.

Final Thoughts

AI interviewers are changing the way companies discover and evaluate talent. As engineers, we're no strangers to change—and this is one we should start leaning into. The best way to get comfortable with it is by trying these tools, practicing with them, and learning from the experience. It's not just about keeping up—it's about getting better. Staying informed about these trends will be as important as refining your resume or prepping for your next big interview. The more comfortable we become with AI interview tools, the more confident we'll feel when facing them in hiring situations.

Whether we like it or not, AI is becoming part of the interview process and is here to stay. The question isn't if you'll encounter it – but when. Being ready might give you the edge you need in today's competitive job market.