Amazon to job seekers: To ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process, please do not …

Amazon is disqualifying job candidates caught using artificial intelligence tools during interviews, according to internal guidelines obtained by Business Insider. The e-commerce giant cites concerns about "unfair advantage" and inability to evaluate "authentic" skills as reasons for the crackdown.
"To ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process, please do not use GenAI tools during your interview unless explicitly permitted," the guidelines state. "Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in disqualification from the recruitment process."
The company has instructed recruiters to share these rules with applicants and provided tips for identifying AI use, including watching for candidates who appear to be reading responses or typing during questions.
"Amazon's recruiting process prioritizes ensuring that candidates hold a high bar," a company spokesperson told Business Insider, adding that candidates must acknowledge they won't use "unauthorized tools, like GenAI" during interviews.
The policy has sparked debate among Amazon employees. "This is certainly an increasing trend, especially for tech/SDE roles," noted one employee in an internal Slack conversation reviewed by Business Insider.
Some employees question the contradiction. One staff member suggested that using AI might be "raising the bar" for Amazon by improving interview quality. "If judged solely by the outcome, it could be considered bar-raising," the employee wrote.
Meanwhile, some tech companies are adapting by allowing AI tools in interviews or making technical assessments open-book. Amazon itself is exploring alternatives, with one employee mentioning their team was "studying" the possibility of providing AI assistants to candidates.