Artificial intelligence is changing the way people work, but can candidates depend on ChatGPT even during a technical job interview? A job seeker’s unusual demand to use AI tools during a software developer interview has gone viral on social media, sparking a debate about modern hiring practices and the future of programming jobs. The candidate reportedly questioned why he should spend 45 minutes solving a coding problem manually when ChatGPT or other AI tools could generate a solution within seconds. However, when the interviewer asked him to explain the technical details of the AI-generated code, the conversation reportedly took an unexpected turn.
Job Seeker Requests Permission To Use ChatGPT During Coding Interview
The incident came to light after a social media user shared a rejection email reportedly sent by a company’s recruitment team.
Bro got rejected because he asked if he could use AI during the interview https://t.co/dsFarGQSDK
— Umesh Kumar Yadav (@Umesh__digital) October 31, 2026
According to the post, the candidate was interviewing for a software developer position. During the technical assessment, he asked whether he could use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor to complete the coding assignment.
His argument was that AI has become an important part of modern software development and that developers increasingly use these tools in their everyday work.
He reportedly questioned the need to spend around 45 minutes solving a coding problem manually when an AI tool could provide a solution much faster.
His request created an interesting situation for the interviewer, who wanted to assess the candidate’s individual programming knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
‘Why Should I Waste 45 Minutes?’ Candidate Questions Interview Process
During the conversation, the candidate reportedly explained that developers in the real world no longer need to write every line of code independently.
He argued that using AI tools could save time and improve productivity.
From his perspective, allowing AI during the assessment would reflect the actual working environment of modern software engineers.
However, the company appeared to have a different expectation. The purpose of the coding round was reportedly to understand whether the candidate could solve technical problems independently.
This difference in expectations became the central issue during the interview.
Interviewer Asks About Time Complexity, Candidate’s Reply Goes Viral
The most interesting part of the incident reportedly happened when the interviewer asked the candidate to explain the time complexity of the solution generated by AI.
Time complexity is an important concept in programming. It helps developers understand how the performance of an algorithm changes as the amount of input data increases.
For example, a solution that works quickly with 10 records may become extremely slow when processing thousands or millions of records.
A software developer should ideally understand why a particular solution works, how efficient it is and whether it can be improved.
However, instead of explaining the concept himself, the candidate reportedly asked whether he could use ChatGPT to answer that question as well.
That response became a major talking point in the viral discussion.
It also raised an important question: if a candidate cannot explain the code generated by an AI tool, how will they handle technical problems in an actual development environment?
Company Rejects Candidate After Interview Discussion
Following the exchange, the recruitment team reportedly informed the candidate that the company had decided to proceed with another applicant.
The rejection communication acknowledged his interest in modern AI-powered development tools but suggested that he should continue improving his programming fundamentals and problem-solving abilities.
The message also highlighted the importance of understanding the technology behind AI-generated solutions.
The incident has attracted attention because it reflects a growing challenge for companies that are trying to balance traditional technical assessments with the increasing use of AI tools.
Social Media Users Are Divided Over The Candidate’s Demand
The incident quickly triggered mixed reactions online.
Some users supported the company’s decision, arguing that a software developer must understand programming fundamentals even when AI tools are available.
One popular opinion was that companies are not simply hiring someone to copy and paste AI-generated code. They need professionals who can understand the problem, check the output and fix errors when something goes wrong.
Others felt that the candidate had raised a valid question. AI tools are already becoming part of everyday software development, and technical interviews should gradually reflect how modern developers actually work.
However, several users pointed out that there is a difference between using AI as an assistant and depending on it for every technical decision.
The discussion has highlighted two important perspectives: companies want employees with strong technical knowledge, while candidates want hiring processes that reflect the changing technology industry.
Why This Incident Is Relatable To Indian IT Job Seekers
The discussion is particularly relevant to India, where thousands of engineering graduates and experienced professionals apply for software development jobs every year.
Cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Gurugram have large technology and IT service industries.
For many candidates, clearing a technical interview is one of the most challenging stages of getting a job.
Companies commonly conduct coding tests, technical discussions, programming assessments and problem-solving rounds before making a hiring decision.
With tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot and Cursor becoming popular, candidates are increasingly using AI to learn programming, understand errors and improve their coding skills.
However, interviews are designed to assess more than the ability to produce working code.
Recruiters may also want to understand whether candidates can explain their approach, identify bugs, compare different solutions and handle unexpected technical problems.
This is why programming fundamentals continue to matter even in the age of AI.
AI Is Changing Software Development, But Basic Coding Skills Still Matter
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence has transformed software development.
Developers can now use AI assistants to generate code, write test cases, explain complicated functions, identify errors and suggest improvements.
Tasks that once required considerable time can sometimes be completed much faster with the help of these tools.
However, AI-generated code is not always correct. It may contain security weaknesses, performance issues or logical errors.
A developer must know how to review the output before using it in a real project.
For example, imagine a company developing a banking application. An AI tool might generate a function to process customer transactions, but the developer must ensure that the code is secure, accurate and capable of handling different situations.
Simply accepting whatever AI generates could create serious problems.
The best developers will likely be those who combine strong technical knowledge with the ability to use AI effectively.