Use AI to prepare. Answer the live interview without it. That is the rule at 13 of the 14 employers that state one for live interviews and nothing among those that state a preparation rule says otherwise.
The rule at each stage
Application materials
8 of the 9 employers that state a rule allow AI help with your resume and answers, usually on the condition that they stay yours.
“a good rule of thumb when using AI in your application is: Refine, not replace”
Interview preparation
All 5 that state a rule allow or encourage it. This is where practicing with AI sits.
“Use Claude to research Anthropic, practice your answers, and prepare questions for us”
“You may use AI to research Mirakl, practice interview questions, organize your thoughts, and help write your resume or cover letter”
Take-home work
All 6 that state a rule restrict it, most often to “no AI unless we say so”.
“Complete take-home exercises and technical challenges independently”
“Complete these without Claude unless we indicate otherwise”
Live interviews
13 of 14 prohibit AI: 8 outright and 5 unless the interviewer says it is part of the exercise.
“During live interviews, including live coding assessments, the use of AI is not permitted”
“we do not permit the use of AI tools during any stage of the application and interview process”
The exception is Thoughtworks, which expects you to use judgment on the output:
“we appreciate good usage of AI tools, expecting your responses to reflect your real-time skills and critical evaluation of AI-generated outputs”
Check the employer's rule before you prepare
1.Look in the posting
Some employers put the rule at the bottom of the job posting. Search the page for "AI".2.Find the policy page
Several link a dedicated page from the posting or the careers site. It usually sets out the stages above and what happens if you break the rule.3.Ask if there is none
Most employers publish nothing. Ask the recruiter by email and keep the answer. Until you hear otherwise, treat live interviews as unaided.4.Say so if you used AI
2 employers in the study ask you to disclose it.
“When you use AI to help with your application or preparation, tell us about it”
Misuse can cost you the application: 3 employers in the study say it can lead to disqualification. See every employer and its rule.
What counts as preparing and what does not
Preparing means researching the company, rehearsing your answers and getting feedback on them, which is what a practice tool like this one does. It stops being preparation when the AI answers for you in the moment. One employer lists this as not allowed:
“Feeding live interview questions into AI and reading answers verbatim or near-verbatim”
Recording rules cut both ways. Some employers record and transcribe interviews with AI themselves and a few forbid candidates from using their own recording tools:
“We ask that you complete interviews and assessments on your own, without real-time AI tools, recording, or transcription bots, unless we tell you otherwise in advance”
Practice the answer out loud, on camera, within the 3 to 5 minute limit and without help. The practice routine.
What this is based on
Public job postings and linked policy pages from 345 employers, collected November 1, 2026. The employers lean toward software and internet companies, an employer with no published rule may still have one and policies change. This is not legal advice. Read the method and limits.
Common questions
Can I use ChatGPT to prepare for an interview?
Yes, at every employer that stated a preparation rule (5 of 5) and 8 of 9 also allow AI help with application materials. Several ask that the content stay yours: refine, do not replace.
Can I use AI during the interview?
At most employers that publish a rule, no. 13 of the 14 that state a live-interview rule prohibit AI, 8 always and 5 unless they say otherwise. Thoughtworks is the one that allows it.
What if the employer does not say?
Most do not. Only 41 of 303 employers in our study published a statement in their postings. Ask the recruiter before the interview and treat live interviews as unaided unless you are told otherwise.
Is using the practice tool allowed?
Practicing is preparation, which every employer that stated a preparation rule allows. The tool's feedback is for rehearsal and what you say in the real interview is yours. Check the specific employer's rule for take-home work and live interviews.
Keep going
The full study
All employers, every quote, the method and the data.
How to practice for a video interview
A routine built on what the practice tool measures.