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Video & AI Interviews

AI Interviews: What to Expect When an AI Interviews You, and How to Pass

What an AI interview is, the three kinds you might face (one-way recorded, chatbot screening, conversational AI interviewer), what the AI evaluates, your rights, how to prepare and pass, and how candidates feel about AI in hiring.

By Amine Boukioud Updated 4 min read
The Huru mascot at a desk answering a question, facing a monitor that shows a glowing blue AI avatar with a waveform and a webcam on top

The short answer: an AI interview is a job interview where software, not a person, asks the questions, records your answers, or both. You’ll usually meet one of three kinds: a one-way recorded video interview scored partly by AI, a chatbot screening by text, or a conversational AI interviewer that talks with you and asks follow-ups. Most of these tools judge what you say: whether you answer the question, with relevant, specific examples. Prepare the same way you would for a human interviewer: research the role, prepare four to six stories, practice answering out loud on camera, and test your setup. Below is how each type works, what the AI evaluates, your rights, and how to prepare.

The three kinds of AI interview

TypeHow it worksWhat to expect
One-way video interviewQuestions appear on screen; you record answers within time limitsThinking time, a few minutes per answer, sometimes retakes; AI may score transcripts, people may watch
Chatbot screeningA text chat asks about availability, eligibility and basic qualificationsShort, factual answers; often schedules the next interview
Conversational AI interviewerAn AI voice or avatar asks questions and follow-ups in real timeFeels like a call or video call; adapts to your answers

For one-way video platforms in particular, see our guides to HireVue and video interview practice.

What the AI evaluates

It varies by vendor, and not every vendor publishes how its tools work. The best-documented example is HireVue, whose 2025 Explainability Statement says its AI transcribes your answer and scores the content against job-related competencies, and does not assess “facial expressions, body language, their background and surroundings, or tone-of-voice.” See our guide to how AI video interviews are scored.

In practice, focus on:

  • Answering the actual question, in your first sentence.
  • Relevant, specific examples with your own actions and results.
  • Clear structure, such as the STAR method.
  • The skills in the job posting, shown through examples rather than repeated keywords.
  • Clear speech, so transcription is accurate.

Your rights

WhereWhat applies
IllinoisThe Artificial Intelligence Video Interview Act requires employers to tell you AI may analyze your video interview, explain how it works, get your consent, and delete your video within 30 days if you ask.
New York CityLocal Law 144 requires bias audits of automated employment decision tools and notice to candidates.
European UnionThe AI Act bans AI that infers emotions in the workplace, except for medical or safety reasons.

If you need an accommodation for a disability, ask the employer before the interview. Some vendors also offer an option to opt out of AI scoring.

How candidates feel about it

You’re not alone if you’re uneasy. In a Pew Research Center survey of 11,004 U.S. adults in December 2022, 66% said they would not want to apply for a job with an employer that uses AI to help make hiring decisions, and Americans opposed AI making final hiring decisions by a wide margin. At the same time, 47% thought AI would do better than humans at treating all applicants similarly.

How to prepare and pass

  1. Read the invitation carefully: the platform, the number of questions, time limits, retakes, and the deadline.
  2. Research the role and pick out the four or five skills the job posting stresses.
  3. Prepare four to six stories that show those skills, with numbers where possible. See common interview questions.
  4. Practice answering out loud on camera, within a time limit. Practicing in your head isn’t enough.
  5. Set up properly: a quiet room, good light on your face, the camera at eye level, a stable connection, and a tested microphone.
  6. During the interview: use the thinking time to pick your example, answer the question directly, and finish with a result.
  7. For conversational AI interviewers: treat it like a real conversation. Listen to the full question, ask it to repeat if needed, and answer follow-ups with more detail.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Reading a script word for word
  • Rambling past the main point to fill the time
  • Generic answers with no example
  • Using AI to generate answers during the interview: many employers prohibit it, and it can disqualify you
  • Leaving it to the last minute before the deadline

Frequently asked questions

What is an AI interview?
A job interview where software asks the questions, records your answers, or both. Common types are one-way recorded video interviews, chatbot screenings and conversational AI interviewers that ask follow-up questions.
How do I pass an AI interview?
Answer each question directly, use clear structure such as STAR, give specific examples with results, show the skills in the job posting, speak clearly, and practice out loud on camera beforehand. Test your setup before you start.
Does an AI interview analyze my face?
It depends on the vendor. HireVue, the best-documented example, says its AI scores only the transcript of what you say, not facial expressions, body language or tone of voice. The EU AI Act bans AI that infers emotions in the workplace.
Is a human involved in AI interviews?
Usually. The AI may screen or score answers, but employers make hiring decisions, and recruiters often review recordings or reports.
Can I refuse an AI interview?
You can ask whether an alternative is available or request an accommodation. In Illinois, employers must get your consent before using AI to evaluate a video interview, and some vendors offer an opt-out from AI scoring.

Sources

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Amine Boukioud

Amine Boukioud is Head of Growth at Huru and writes Huru’s company interview guides. Each one starts from the company’s own careers pages and what candidates report, and follows Huru’s editorial policy.

Published · Updated

How this article was made: researched and drafted with AI assistance, then written, fact-checked and signed by Amine Boukioud on October 1, 2026. Sources are linked where they are used. How we work: editorial policy.

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