AI Interviewer: Live Two-Way Interviews With Evidence Scorecards
An AI interviewer is software that conducts a real interview - asks questions, listens, and probes follow-ups - and scores the candidate against a rubric. The Cognitive's AI interviewer runs live, two-way video interviews of about 20 minutes with a human face and voice: every follow-up question is decided in real time from what the candidate just said, never from a script, and every score comes back as an evidence scorecard with quotes and timestamps. Candidates self-schedule inside the window you set, 90%+ complete their interviews, and pricing starts at $99/month for 15 interviews - with 5 free interviews to try it on a real role.
What is The Cognitive's AI interviewer?
The Cognitive's AI interviewer is a live AI interviewer that replaces the screening call: it conducts a two-way video conversation, evaluates answers as they happen, and produces an evidence-linked scorecard - not a recording for you to watch. It is the interview layer of The Cognitive's AI recruiting platform, which also sources candidates with verified contact data.
Setting up a role takes about 8-10 minutes: the AI generates a job description, interview questions, and an evaluation rubric from a short brief, and you edit whatever you want. Every candidate for that role is then interviewed against the same rubric - questions adapt to each candidate, the scoring bar never does.
How does the live interview work?
- Live and two-way: a real-time video conversation with a human face and voice - not a recording booth where candidates answer fixed prompts
- Adaptive, never scripted: the next question is decided in real time from the candidate's last answer - vague answers get probed, strong ones get pushed into harder territory
- About 20 minutes per interview (configurable per role), any hour, any timezone
- Real-time cheat detection flags scripted reading, coaching, and identity mismatches during the interview
- Recordings are available immediately after the interview; scored feedback lands within minutes
Evidence scorecards: quotes and timestamps behind every rating
Every rating on a Cognitive scorecard is tied to what the candidate actually said: the quote, and the timestamp where they said it. Reviewers audit the reasoning instead of trusting a number, hiring managers see why a candidate scored 8 and not 6, and the same rubric applies to every candidate for the role - the foundation of a defensible, consistent process.
Self-scheduling: no coordination, no calendar tennis
You set the window in which interview slots are open; candidates pick their own slot - evenings, weekends, their timezone - get a join link, and join on time. No recruiter coordination, no back-and-forth emails. That, plus a live conversation instead of a one-way recording, is why 90%+ of invited candidates complete their Cognitive interviews, where one-way video screens commonly see 40-60% completion.
What does the AI interviewer cost?
- Interviews from $99/month for 15 interviews - tiers at $299/45, $499/100, $999/225, custom above; annual billing saves 17%
- Every account starts with 5 free AI interviews on a real role - no credit card required
- Optional AI sourcing from $49/month feeds the same pipeline with candidates and verified contact data
Where to go deeper
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AI interviewer live or one-way video?
Live. The Cognitive's AI interviewer holds a real-time, two-way video conversation with a human face and voice - it listens to each answer and decides the next question from it. It is not a one-way tool where candidates record answers to fixed prompts; that format difference is why completion runs 90%+ versus the 40-60% typical of one-way screens.
How are candidates scored?
Against a per-role rubric, with evidence. Every rating on the scorecard is linked to quotes and timestamps from the interview, so reviewers can audit exactly why a candidate scored the way they did. Every candidate for a role is held to the same rubric and scoring bar; scored feedback is available within minutes of the interview ending.
Do candidates need to schedule with a recruiter?
No. You set the window in which slots are open; candidates self-schedule any slot inside it - any hour, any timezone - receive a join link, and join on time. Recordings are available to your team immediately afterward.
How much does the AI interviewer cost?
From $99/month for 15 interviews, with tiers at $299/45, $499/100, and $999/225 (custom above; annual billing saves 17%). Every account starts with 5 free AI interviews, no credit card required, so you can judge scorecard quality on a real role before paying.
Does the AI interviewer make the hiring decision?
No. It interviews, scores with evidence, and ranks; your team reviews the scorecards and makes every decision. Approving a candidate can auto-send the hiring manager's templated calendar email, and you can optionally send rejected candidates a feedback email with strengths and gaps.
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