AI in Job Interviews: Key Candidate Question

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly relevant in the job market, prompting potential employees and current workers to rethink their roles. As we move into 2026, one essential question candidates should be ready to tackle during interviews is how they plan to integrate AI into their work processes. Daniela Rus, director of the MIT Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, highlights that in many roles, the baseline expectation will shift from mere job performance to how individuals can provide unique value that surpasses both AI capabilities and traditional human efforts.

The relationship between AI and human roles is evolving, as noted by Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari. He points out that while larger corporations are experiencing productivity gains through AI, this is leading to a slowdown in hiring across the sector. Businesses are witnessing tangible improvements in efficiency, with many firms that were once doubtful about AI adoption now actively utilizing it.

Even within contrasting perspectives, it is crucial to recognize that not all companies are scaling back on hiring due to AI. AMD’s CEO, Lis Su, affirms that despite the trends, her company continues to expand and hire individuals with AI expertise. However, it is also apparent that various businesses, including giants such as Shopify and Accenture, have engaged in layoffs while strongly advocating for staff to upgrade their AI skills. Fiverr’s CEO, Micha Kaufman, emphasizes the importance of adapting and preparing teams for a landscape significantly influenced by AI technologies.

The transition to AI augmentation raises questions about employee trust, as emphasized by Rus. As companies begin to utilize AI for mundane tasks, workers must remain critical of how these changes are presented. Transparency regarding the use of AI is vital to ensure that employees do not feel their roles are diminishing. Kaufman also addresses the intrinsic fear that employees may have regarding AI, clarifying that mastering AI tools doesn’t equate to training one’s replacement but rather becoming integral to shaping a new work landscape.

Fiverr’s platform has been in the eye of the AI adoption storm, serving as a space where freelancers leverage AI to enhance productivity. The platform’s findings indicate that 40% of freelancers have integrated AI into their workflows, resulting in significant time savings and better compensation for those who adapt early.

Research from The Budget Lab at Yale suggests that the integration of AI into the workplace may not be as disruptive as previously feared. Despite potential perceptions of immediate threat, historical precedence indicates that technological shifts tend to manifest over longer periods, demonstrating a gradual evolution in the job sector rather than abrupt changes.

While McKinsey’s study forecasts the possibility of AI automating significant portions of the workforce, it clarifies that this does not simply translate to job losses. Many roles may shift, evolve, or even emerge in response to this transformation, reflecting a future where collaboration between humans and intelligent systems becomes pivotal.

Amid the potential for corporate failings in their AI strategies, such as Klarna’s substantial layoffs followed by a need to rehire for customer service roles, one observation stands out: human capacity for nuanced understanding and emotional judgment remains irreplaceable. Efforts to transition from human to AI capabilities will require time and an understanding that AI systems lack the innate learning capabilities of human employees.