Columbia Student's AI Interview Tool Lands Him Amazon, Meta Internships — Then Gets Him Expelled
Roy Lee created Interview Coder, an undetectable AI-driven tool designed to assist candidates in cracking LeetCode-style coding interviews.
A Columbia University student, Roy Lee, has stirred controversy after revealing that he used an AI tool he developed to ace coding interviews and land internships at top tech firms like Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. However, his journey took an unexpected turn when the university expelled him, allegedly following pressure from Amazon.
AI-Powered Interview Hacking?
Lee created Interview Coder, an undetectable AI-driven tool designed to assist candidates in cracking LeetCode-style coding interviews. He openly admitted to using the software to secure multiple offers, even sharing his success story on X (formerly Twitter).
"Yes, I actually used Interview Coder to get an Amazon offer. Yes, I used to also run an account that taught people how to solve Leetcode questions," Lee wrote in his post.
Yes, I actually used @InterviewCoder to get an Amazon offer.
— Roy (@im_roy_lee) February 28, 2025
Yes, I used to also run an account that taught people how to solve Leetcode questions.
Enjoy.https://t.co/cgzrMDBE2Q
The tool, which automates solutions to complex algorithmic problems, was initially launched as an open-source project on LinkedIn. While its first release didn’t gain much traction, Lee continued refining it throughout the recruitment season, ultimately helping him secure positions at Meta, TikTok, and Capital One.
Banned, Then Expelled
Lee’s experiment in pushing boundaries, however, came at a cost. After posting about his offers as job experience, LinkedIn banned his account, and he was removed from several Reddit communities. But the real trouble began when he shared a video detailing how he used Interview Coder throughout Amazon’s hiring process.
According to Lee, Amazon executives were not amused. He claims the company sent a letter to Columbia University demanding his expulsion or threatening to halt hiring from the institution. Shortly after, Lee received a disciplinary notice from the university.
"I was told not to share the letter, but at that point, I had two choices: Stay quiet and get buried (Columbia would surely have sided with Amazon to kick me out) or go public and fight," he said.
Fighting Back — But Losing the Battle
Lee took the riskier path, leaking the alleged Amazon letter, which went viral on social media. However, Columbia proceeded with disciplinary action, accusing him of enabling cheating within university courses. Though he denied the allegation, he was placed on academic probation and later expelled after a second hearing.
Reflecting on the experience, Lee said, "It's funny now and an amazing story in hindsight, but the truth is I was tweaking bad throughout this entire process. Taking this much risk tested my mental strength to its absolute limit, but I'm super glad I did it."
Despite the setback, Lee remains undeterred. He claims Interview Coder still functions and has been upgraded for 'maximal undetectability.' The ethical debate over AI tools in hiring processes, however, is far from over.
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