How to best talk about AI in job interviews — even if you're skeptical of it

As more companies adopt AI tools, employers are asking candidates to discuss the tech.Nitat Termmee/Getty ImagesAs more employers adopt AI, job seekers are getting asked how they use these tools.Even if you have concerns, there are ways to effectively discuss AI in an interview.

People who haven't used AI much should be honest and show they want to learn, said hiring pros.When Cristina Estupiñán was job searching after a layoff, potential employers would ask about her enthusiasm for AI during interviews.Unfortunately, that enthusiasm was lacking."

I have to make up something about what excites me about AI because, frankly, nothing really excites me about AI," Estupiñán, who worked in software development, previously told Business Insider.As more companies adopt AI tools — and more job postings mention the technology — employers are asking candidates to discuss AI during interviews. Job seekers don't necessarily have to become AI evangelists, hiring experts say, though they should be prepared to explain how they've used the technology and how they think about it.

Like any other interview topic, it's worth practicing how you'll describe your experience with AI — or explain why you haven't used it much. What has your experience with AI been like during your job search? Were you asked about your AI usage, or did you have an interview with an AI recruiter?

Reach out to these reporters to share at tparadis@businessinsider.com and mhoff@businessinsider.com.

Expect AI to come upCandidates should expect interviewers to ask how they've used AI in previous roles, how comfortable they are with it, and where they see it fitting into their work. Gallup survey results showed that the share of US employees using AI at work increased from 21% in the second quarter of 2023 to 50% in the first quarter of 2026.Hiring managers want to understand whether and how a prospective employee used AI, said Kareem Osman, vice president and market director of technology talent solutions at the staffi