Some months ago, I had one of the most surreal experiences of my developer journey: I got interviewed by an AI.
Yes — a literal artificial intelligence. And not the chatbots we’re all used to. This was a full-blown AI interviewer, with a voice, feedback loop, and everything.
How It Started
Before the session began, I was sent a set of instructions:
- Turn on my camera
- Share my screen
- Keep my mic on
Fair enough. The idea was to ensure there was no foul play.
Then it began.
A warm, female voice greeted me:
“Hello Churchill, how are you doing today?”
She even mentioned my name. I responded verbally — and just like that, the interview kicked off.
The Experience
As the minutes passed, I was genuinely impressed. She asked me questions, listened to my answers, and even gave feedback based on keywords and scenarios I mentioned. It didn’t feel robotic at all. It honestly felt like I was speaking to a real human being.
The flow was smooth. Natural. Almost too good to be true.
And then… Nigeria happened.
When the Internet Became the Villain
Out of nowhere, my ISP decided it was time to embarrass me. Suddenly, “Auntie AI” (as I nicknamed her) started glitching.
Sometimes she would cut me off, responding before I had even finished my sentence.
Other times, she would pause, then reply a whole 30 seconds after I was done speaking.
The conversation started breaking apart. And then she froze completely.
I just sat there, watching the timer tick down… 8 minutes left… 5 minutes left… until the meeting ended automatically.
Interview incomplete.
The Bigger Picture
That’s when it hit me: we are truly living in the age of AI evolution — but without proper infrastructure, countries like mine will always be playing catch-up.
Japan is already decades ahead of even the U.S. in infrastructure. Meanwhile, we’re here fighting ISPs that can barely keep a video call stable. If this gap remains, we won’t just be behind — we’ll be irrelevant in the global tech race.
Final Thoughts
The AI interview itself was brilliant — a taste of what the future of hiring could look like. But the experience also revealed something sobering: no matter how much talent you have, your environment and infrastructure can either amplify it or cripple it.
Until we invest in fixing our infrastructure, we’ll keep being spectators in a game where we should be players.
God help us. God bless Nigeria. 🇳🇬
👉 Have you ever had tech let you down at a crucial moment (especially in Nigeria)? I’d love to hear your story.
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