How devs are using AI to cheat on interviews (and 3 strategies to compete against them)
Deepfakes, viral interview prep startups, and what you can do to stay human in an AI world.
Generative AI has changed everything from how we write code to how we compete for jobs.
We’re seeing a wave of developers leaning on AI in interviews to generate answers and write code in real-time. (In more extreme cases, some are even using fully AI-generated deepfakes).
In a market like this, it's easy to spiral:
“What if someone with a chatbot lands the job before I do?”
You might even feel tempted to “level the playing field” by augmenting your own performance with AI.
But here’s the truth:
Hiring teams are catching on. Detection tools are evolving just as fast.
Faking it won't scale. You can’t deepfake debugging under pressure.
Only your authentic skills will carry you through the job and beyond.
And that’s actually your unfair advantage.
Today I’ll share 3 strategies to signal your authenticity and land the job in the AI era.
3 strategies to outshine AI in interviews (without cheating)
1. Sharpen the skills AI can’t mimic
Adaptability: Can you pivot when the problem changes?
Clarity: Can you explain trade-offs and alternatives, not just recite a solution?
Team instinct: Can you collaborate and think out loud like a real dev?
These aren't just skills. They’re your authenticators. They give interviewers confidence that you’re prepared for the realities of the job, not just the performance of the interview.
2. Practice in real conditions
The best prep isn’t another tutorial or AI-generated script. It’s mock interviews.
Here are three ways to get the most out of mock interviews:
Recreate stress: Real-time sessions with time pressure simulate the real thing.
Spot blind spots: Get feedback on your thinking, not just your code.
Build confidence: Practice recovering after you hit a wall.
Think of it like sparring. You wouldn’t fight for a title match without taking a few hits first.
3. Use AI as a training partner, not a crutch
AI tools are great for interview prep.
Solid use cases include:
Simulating technical or behavioral interviews
Critiquing your recorded responses
Reviewing your code after mock sessions
But don’t bring it to the actual fight. When it’s game time, show up as your full, human self (even if you’re slightly sweaty).
Authenticity wins
At the end of the day, AI can’t debug a merge conflict with a teammate or design a solution under messy constraints. You can. That’s what gets people hired — and keeps them there.
Want to train like it's the real thing? Get real-time feedback, code review, and diagramming practice with: Educative AI Mock Interviews.
If you’re an engineering manager, check out my post below to learn strategies you can deploy today to protect your pipeline from being manipulated by AI:
