Kevin Powell

A developer shares their contrasting experiences interviewing at OpenAI and Shopify regarding AI tool usage. OpenAI prohibited AI during the interview despite expecting daily AI use on the job, while Shopify actively encouraged it. At Shopify, the candidate demonstrated a thoughtful AI-assisted workflow: pseudocoding first, then selectively using AI for complex parts like matrix math, rather than one-shotting the entire task. The candidate finished early and showcased additional skills like accessibility and animation. The story highlights a disconnect between how companies expect developers to work daily versus how they test them in interviews.

Open AI didn't allow AI in the interview