Cursor sells AI coding, but its screens allow only autocomplete. OpenAI's allow none.

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OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Cursor and Perplexity keep AI out of every coding round. 8 of 12 AI labs allow it somewhere or are trying it, Anthropic among them. Which rounds, what they grade, and how big tech compares.

An airliner cockpit: throttle levers and instruments
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  • Cursor sells AI coding, but its screens allow only autocomplete. OpenAI’s allow none.
  • 4 of 12 AI labs keep AI out of every coding round: OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Cursor and Perplexity.
  • 5 allow it in at least one round (SpaceXAI, Mistral AI, Harvey, Applied Intuition and Cohere); 3 are trying it in some loops: Anthropic, Sierra and Together AI.
  • Big tech allows AI more: 7 of 8 big tech and other tech companies allow or trial AI, against 8 of 12 AI labs.
  • Where AI is allowed, those rounds grade explaining what you shipped and a working result more than anything else.

4 of 12 AI labs keep AI out of every coding round

AI labs by their AI policy across the whole loop, where candidates, public guides or the company state one. At Cursor, its CEO says the first technical screens allow no AI other than autocomplete; whether the onsite project allows it is not confirmed. 11 AI labs have no stated policy and are left out.

  1. AI allowed in at least one round5 labs
  2. AI in some loops or pilots3 labs
  3. No AI in any coding round4 labs

Big tech allows AI more than the AI labs do

The same policies for big tech and other tech companies (Nvidia, Stripe, Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Uber and Snowflake). 88% of them allow or trial AI in at least one round, against 67% of the AI labs.

  • No AI in any coding round
  • AI in some loops or pilots
  • AI allowed in at least one round
  1. AI labs n=12No AI in any coding round 33%AI in some loops or pilots 25%AI allowed in at least one round 42%
  2. Big tech and others n=8No AI in any coding round 13%AI in some loops or pilots 75%AI allowed in at least one round 13%

At the AI labs, the coding round is where AI comes in most

The rounds where each AI lab allows AI, or trials it in some loops. A practical round is building or fixing something real.

CompanyCodingPractical codingTake-homeAI system design
SpaceXAInonoyesno
Mistral AIyesnonono
Harveyyesnonono
Applied Intuitionnoyesnono
Cohereyesnonono
Anthropicyesnonono
Sierranoyesnono
Together AInononoyes

Those rounds grade explaining what you shipped, then a working result

What the 8 AI lab rounds that allow or trial AI say they grade, by theme. A round can grade more than one thing.

  1. Explaining what you shipped4 rounds
  2. A working result4 rounds
  3. Checking and rejecting the AI's code3 rounds
  4. How you prompt1 round

What this means for your prep

  1. Practice unaided first. OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Cursor and Perplexity keep AI out of their coding rounds.
  2. Practice with an assistant too. At SpaceXAI, Mistral AI and Harvey, at least one round allows it.
  3. Ask which rounds allow AI. At 3 labs it depends on the loop, and rules change fast, so ask your recruiter for each round.
  4. Where AI is allowed, get to a working result and be ready to explain every line.

See every reported question for your loop, by round, with when it was last asked.

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