TL;DR: At Upstart, we welcome candidates to use AI as part of the hiring process, as long as it enhances your thinking and doesn’t replace your own work. You are responsible for the quality and integrity of your work, which means using AI in ways that authentically represent your own skills and experiences.

 
At Upstart, we care about your ideas, your judgment, and your ability to make smart, responsible choices with the tools available to you.

Context

Use AI as much as you like—just be thoughtful in how you use it, and transparent when it matters.

AI is part of who we are–both in our products and in how we work every day. We expect and encourage the use of generative AI across all roles to drive productivity, creativity, and speed.

When we talk about “AI” here, we mean generative AI tools (like ChatGPT or Claude) that help  you work—not the predictive AI models that power our platform. At Upstart, using GenAI isn’t extra credit; it’s a modern skill. It’s often the starting point for getting great work done. That mindset applies to how we approach hiring, too.

Our interviews are designed to mirror the work you’d do here; using the same tools, including GenAI.

The Principle

AI is a tool—not a substitute. It should support your thinking, not do the thinking for you.

We don’t follow rigid rulebooks at Upstart — we lead with principles.

We empower Upstarters (and future Upstarters) to make smart, responsible, and informed choices. That includes how AI is used both in our work and throughout the hiring process.

You are accountable for what you share with us;  its accuracy, authenticity, and your ability to explain it. Your work should always reflect your own knowledge and experience, even if a tool helps shape or polish it. 

A Few Examples of What That Could Look Like*

• Resume or writing samples: You use AI to refine or restructure your materials—but they still represent you. You don’t need to disclose tool use, but you should be ready to speak confidently about every detail.
• Coding interview: You use AI to create and debug code. You let your interviewer know you’re using it, then walk through what the AI produced, what you changed, and why. We care about how you think, not just what a tool outputs.  
• Take-home challenges: You use AI to organize your response. You include a short note explaining how AI shaped your process, and how it reflects your own thinking.

*These examples show where  transparency matters most, but ultimately, we trust your judgment. The goal isn’t disclosure for its own sake, but ensuring your work reflects your real skills.

What Matters Most

No matter where or how you use AI, we care most about your judgement, understanding, and ownership of your outcomes. Tools can help, but it’s your thinking that makes the difference.

That’s what we value at Upstart: move fast and with purpose, make clever use of numbers, and stay open. Do the right thing, even when it’s hard.