If you’re certain that the responses were generated using AI and it conflicts with the intent of your hiring process, here are steps you can take:

1. Review Your Goals
• Consider why the pre-interview questions were sent. If the purpose was to evaluate the candidate’s independent thought or specific knowledge, AI-generated responses may undermine this process.

2. Communicate Expectations
• If you haven’t already, make it explicit that you expect candidates to answer questions independently. Add a note to future communication specifying that responses should reflect their own knowledge and experience.

3. Follow-Up Questions
• Ask follow-up questions during the interview that dive deeper into the pre-interview responses. This allows you to assess whether the candidate genuinely understands the content or simply relied on AI.

4. Assess Intention
• Consider the candidate’s intention. Did they use AI as a tool to assist their thinking or replace their input entirely? Using AI as a resource (e.g., for formatting or brainstorming) may not necessarily be a dealbreaker, depending on the role.

5. Reassess the Role Requirements
• For roles where creativity, personal insight, or specific expertise are critical, AI-generated answers could raise red flags. For positions requiring problem-solving or adaptability, the use of AI may demonstrate resourcefulness.

6. Address It Directly
• During the interview, politely mention your observations and ask the candidate to explain their approach to answering the pre-interview questions. This can help clarify their reasoning and process.

7. Update Future Processes
• If this situation bothers you, consider modifying your pre-interview questions to include tasks or prompts that require a personal touch, such as:
• Relating experiences to the job role.
• Providing examples from their past work.
• Completing a task in real time during the interview.

Would you like advice on crafting better pre-interview questions or follow-up strategies?