PM interviews go AI‑native
- A social post described a new PM onsite format led by Bret Taylor: ideation, a two‑hour AI‑assisted build, and a review session. (x.com) - The format replaces traditional coding rounds and prioritises product thinking plus technical judgement in a candidate's domain. (x.com) - The shift illustrates interviewers' growing focus on practical execution and AI‑assisted prototyping in hiring decisions. (x.com)
Bret Taylor said he’s replacing traditional PM coding rounds with an “AI‑native” onsite: ideation, a two‑hour AI‑assisted build, and a review session. (x.com) Taylor — CEO of Sierra and chair of OpenAI’s board — posted the format as part of Sierra’s hiring experiment. (cnbc.com) Sierra’s writeup explains the loop: a working session to define a product in the candidate’s domain, the interviewer leaves, and the candidate builds for two hours using AI tooling. (sierra.ai) The company says it “removed our coding and algorithms interviews” to focus evaluation on product thinking and technical judgment rather than raw algorithmic speed. (sierra.ai) The change mirrors a broader trend: Meta began piloting an AI‑enabled coding interview in October 2025 and other firms are rolling out AI‑assisted screens. (interviewing.io) Recruiting groups argue older whiteboard tests don’t measure AI‑era work; an industry guide from AISA urged interviewers in January 2026 to test prototyping, iteration, and verification skills. (aisa.to) Engineering blogs and prep firms now coach candidates on collaboration with AI, prompt design, and validating model outputs instead of algorithmic trickery. (formation.dev) Sierra also says it will pilot a debugging interview to assess 1→N product work, a move recruiters and candidates will watch as firms decide which practical skills matter most next. (sierra.ai)
