What’s Happening in Big Tech Interviews in 2026 (FAANG)

Companies like FAANG and beyond, which once relied on standardized coding interviews, are now completely changing how they evaluate candidates. AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. have introduced a new challenge: candidates can use AI assistance during interviews, forcing companies to rethink the entire hiring process.

After speaking with dozens of hiring managers and Interview Query learners, we identified three major trends reshaping tech interviews at companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, OpenAI, and more.

In this video, we break down:
• Why AI tools are disrupting traditional coding interviews
• How companies are detecting AI-assisted cheating
• Why some companies are moving back to whiteboard coding
• How OpenAI and Stripe are redesigning interview questions
• Why behavioral interviews are becoming more important
• How hiring processes are becoming less standardized across companies
• The unexpected consequences of AI in hiring

Tech interviews are rapidly evolving. Some companies are doubling down on surveillance and proctoring, while others are redesigning interviews to test how candidates work with AI instead of competing against it.

If you're preparing for roles in data science, software engineering, product management, artificial intelligence, or analytics, understanding these trends can help you prepare for the next generation of tech interviews.

🔥 Try Interview Query for your tech interview prep. Use code "datasciencejay" for 10% off: https://www.interviewquery.com/pricing?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=bigtech_interviews_2025

Timestamps

00:00 Something strange is happening with tech interviews
00:27 The old tech interview system (2019)
01:20 The shift to remote interviews after 2020
01:49 The ChatGPT disruption
02:14 The AI cheating arms race
03:32 The security risks companies are facing
04:21 Anti-cheating interview strategies at Google
04:48 Meta’s new product analytics interview questions
05:38 OpenAI testing candidates on AI mistakes
06:01 Stripe’s take-home assignments and open tool usage
06:26 Startups experimenting with AI-assisted interviews
06:50 Why interview difficulty is increasing
07:18 Behavioral interviews becoming more important
07:41 The hidden team matching filter at Meta
08:05 The return of pedigree-based hiring
08:33 Why interview processes are fragmenting across companies
08:59 The growing trust gap in hiring
09:25 What this means for candidates today
10:11 Preparing for modern tech interviews with Interview Query

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