21-year-old Ivy League student develops AI cheating tool to secure Amazon, Meta internships

Chungin "Roy" Lee, a computer science student at Columbia, an Ivy League University in New York, gained brief fame after claiming on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that he created a software named "Interview Coder." This AI-powered tool secretly assisted him during virtual interviews by generating code solutions, improving them, and even providing detailed explanations.

Lee stated that the tool was undetectable by popular video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet and was resistant to webcam monitoring, according to CNBC.

Lee explained that frustration from 600 hours of rigorous coding practice prompted him to develop the software in just one week. He then demonstrated its effectiveness by posting a video on YouTube, where he successfully passed a coding interview with Amazon.

Following the revelation, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok rescinded their internship offers. Amazon last month allegedly filed a complaint to the Columbia University regarding Lee's use of the AI tool in the interview process, according to a behavioral conduct reporting form uploaded on X by Lee.

Columbia University initiated disciplinary proceedings against Lee on March 11, Gizmodo reported.

Lee suggested his AI tool highlights vulnerabilities in current recruitment methods, potentially forcing companies to reconsider their interview practices to ensure fairness and accuracy.

In response to the increasing use of generative AI for cheating, tech firms have begun revising their hiring practices. Google is considering returning to in-person interviews, while Amazon now requires job candidates to explicitly acknowledge not using unauthorized assistance during assessments.