HackerRank launches Chakra, an AI agent that conducts and scores job interviews

The company reports that Chakra has conducted over 500,000 interviews during testing, with participants including Snowflake, Snorkel, and Capgemini. HackerRank claims that allowing candidates to use AI during the interview actually reduced suspicious activity flags by 70% to 80% compared to traditional assessments, as it removes the incentive to secretly use external tools. The system aims to consolidate multiple hiring stages, such as recruiter screens and take-home assignments, into a single session.

While CEO Vivek Ravisankar argues that AI reduces bias by applying consistent rubrics, he acknowledges that final hiring decisions remain with humans. The launch comes as regulators, including in New York City, increasingly scrutinize automated employment decision tools for potential bias, requiring independent audits and candidate notifications.