Yes, You Can Use AI in Our Interviews. In Fact, We Insist (www.canva.dev)

Canva has announced a transformative approach to its technical interview process, explicitly allowing and encouraging candidates for Backend, Machine Learning, and Frontend engineering roles to utilize AI tools like Copilot, Cursor, and Claude during interviews. This change mirrors the increasing reliance on AI tools within the engineering community, where nearly half of Canva's engineers actively use such technologies. By integrating AI into the interview process, Canva aims to better reflect real-world coding scenarios, evaluate candidates’ collaborative skills with AI, and maintain high standards in technical proficiency. The redesigned interview format shifts focus from traditional algorithms and data structure challenges to more complex, ambiguous problem-solving situations that require iterative thinking and sound technical judgment. Candidates will not only be assessed on their coding skills but also on their ability to effectively leverage AI, ask clarifying questions, and critically analyze AI-generated outputs. This approach aligns with Canva's broader "AI Everywhere" philosophy, ensuring that their hiring practices evolve alongside the AI landscape and prepare engineers to thrive in a rapidly changing technological environment. Early results indicate that this method enhances engagement and accurately predicts candidate performance, marking a significant evolution in how technical skills are evaluated in the AI era.