What is expected in the AI-assisted coding round at SDE 1?

Focus on reading unfamiliar code quickly and fixing the bug correctly. Explain every line you accept from the AI.

What is expected in the AI-assisted coding round at SDE 2?

Expected to move through all stages and test as you go.

What is expected in the AI-assisted coding round at SDE 3?

Expected to plan the change, use the AI for routine parts, and catch its mistakes.

What is expected in the AI-assisted coding round at SDE 4?

Where used, scored on design decisions and how you verify, not on speed.

INTERVIEW ROUNDS

The AI-assisted coding round

A newer round (Meta since late 2025, LinkedIn, and pilots at Google and others) where you work in a multi-file project with an AI assistant available. You are scored on judgment: what you ask the AI, how you check its output and whether you understand the final code.

What happens

Instead of a blank editor, you get an existing codebase and a task in stages: find and fix a bug, build a feature, then make it faster or handle larger inputs. An AI chat assistant is available but usually cannot edit files for you. Using the AI is optional; interviewers score problem solving, code quality, verification and communication the same way as a normal round.

What is expected at each level

Your level

SDE 1 · New grad to about 2 years: Focus on reading unfamiliar code quickly and fixing the bug correctly. Explain every line you accept from the AI.
SDE 2 · About 2 to 5 years: Expected to move through all stages and test as you go.
SDE 3 · Senior, about 5 to 10 years: Expected to plan the change, use the AI for routine parts, and catch its mistakes.
SDE 4 · Staff, principal and above: Where used, scored on design decisions and how you verify, not on speed.

How to prepare

Practise reading code you did not write: open-source repos are perfect for this.
Learn to write precise prompts: the input, the constraint and the expected output.
Always run and test what the AI suggests before accepting it.
Read the AlgoRung tips on working with coding agents.

Common mistakes

Pasting the whole task into the AI and accepting the answer
Not running the code between changes
Being unable to explain code you accepted
Ignoring the time: each stage has a budget

Companies that use it

Google · SDE 1, SDE 2
A pilot reported in May 2026 for some US junior and mid-level loops swaps one coding round for a code-comprehension round where you read, debug and optimize an existing codebase with Gemini available.
Meta · All levels
Since October 2025 this round gives you a multi-file project with an AI chat assistant, in three phases: fix a bug, build the core feature, then optimize for larger inputs.
LinkedIn · SDE 2, SDE 3, SDE 4
An AI-enabled round has replaced one traditional coding round; you are scored on prompt quality, checking the AI's output and production thinking.

Other rounds

The online assessment (OA) · The phone screen · The coding round (DSA) · Low-level design and machine coding · The system design round (HLD) · Team-specific rounds · The behavioral round · The hiring manager round · The bar raiser round · Team match and hiring committee