Federal Government to Deploy AI Interviews for Tech Hires

The federal government is launching artificial intelligence-powered interviews for certain job applicants this week, marking a significant shift in how the nation's largest employer screens candidates for its 1.9 million-person workforce.

According to U.S. officials, the AI interview technology will initially be tested on applicants to the Tech Force, an eight-month-old initiative designed to recruit private-sector technology experts into two-year government positions. The platform CodeSignal will conduct the automated interviews for this pilot program.

How the AI interviews will work

The AI agents will conduct structured interviews using standardized questions. These virtual interviewers will record and summarize the audio conversations, allowing hiring managers to review and evaluate candidates later. CodeSignal offers multiple AI-powered screening tools, including virtual agent interviews and phone, audio, and text-based options that produce transcribed recordings for human reviewers.

The deployment follows guidance issued last week by the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government's human resources division, which encouraged agencies to adopt AI in hiring while maintaining human oversight for critical personnel decisions. OPM had previously introduced an AI tool earlier this year to help prepare job descriptions.

Why it matters

The federal government has lagged behind private employers in adopting AI screening tools, despite facing chronic challenges with slow hiring processes. This pilot represents a test case for whether automated interviews can accelerate recruitment without sacrificing quality or fairness in a sector bound by strict equal opportunity requirements. If successful, officials indicated AI interviews will likely expand across federal agencies in coming years, fundamentally changing how government positions are filled.

Broader AI adoption in federal HR

Beyond interviews, AI tools are becoming more prevalent in federal personnel offices. Administrative staff now have access to multiple AI programs on government computers, including Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Google's Gemini.

OPM Director Scott Kupor has championed efforts to modernize and accelerate federal hiring, which has historically been criticized for lengthy timelines. Kupor has also pushed agency heads to dedicate at least one-third of new hires to early-career professionals to address the aging federal workforce.

The Tech Force initiative itself represents an attempt to bridge the talent gap between government and the private sector, offering temporary positions that allow technology professionals to contribute their expertise without committing to permanent federal careers.

CBS News first reported these details, citing multiple U.S. officials familiar with the implementation plans.