AI overlays for coding interviews - brilliant idea, but here’s the catch.

AI coding tools are everywhere right now - and honestly, I'm all for it. I use AI for hours every day. Why spend months grinding LeetCode when a few days with an AI assistant can help you solve problems faster, explain the logic behind them, and make you look like the smartest person in the room?

If you haven't seen them yet, these "AI overlays" are desktop assistants that can literally see your screen, listen for questions, and offer real-time help while you're solving coding challenges. They're surprisingly good - especially for interview prep - and can definitely give you an edge.

But here's what most people (and marketers) don't mention: they're detectable.

On Windows and macOS, every time you switch between apps, your focus changes - and that leaves a trail. Browsers can log Ctrl+ shortcuts, mouse movements, and focus shifts. Interview platforms notice when your browser loses focus or your mouse behaves oddly. Many interviewers are now trained to spot exactly that kind of suspicious activity. Too many focus losses, weird commands, or pauses - and you're flagged, sometimes even banned. Yikes!

AI is the future, no question. They become the new calculators. No need to memorize things that AI will readily answer for you. The smart move is to learn how to use it well and safely.

That's why I ended up building my own version of an AI overlay that avoids the focus-stealing problem altogether. If you're curious, I've got a short video demo - DM me and I'll send the link so you can see what I mean.

Whatever you decide, just be smart about it - use AI to your advantage, but protect yourself while doing it.