While candidates are using technology to cheat, employers are observing their behavior during interviews to try to catch them. Interviewers have learned to look for eyes wandering to the side, the reflection of other apps visible on candidates' glasses, and answers that sound rehearsed or don't match questions, among other clues.
Perhaps the biggest tell is a simple "Hmm."
Hiring managers said they've noticed that many candidates use the ubiquitous sound to buy themselves time while waiting for their AI tools to finish their work.
"I'll hear a pause, then 'Hmm,' and all of a sudden, it's the perfect answer," said Anna Spearman, founder of Techie Staffing, an agency that helps companies fill technical roles. "There have also been instances where the code looked OK, but they couldn't describe how they came to the conclusion."