Tengai is a Swedish AI-avatar screening interview that employers use early in hiring in place of a phone screen. You talk with the avatar in a browser on your phone or computer, and a human recruiter reviews the results and decides. This page explains what Tengai is, what the interview is like, what it scores, the rules and practicalities, and how to prepare. We researched Tengai's own candidate pages and independent reports in November 2026; employers configure these tools differently, so your invitation has the final word.
What Tengai is
Tengai AB, based in Stockholm, says it does not judge age, looks, gender, accent or tone of voice and uses no facial recognition. Swedish trade press reported more than 20,000 Tengai interviews between January 2025 and September 2026.
Who uses it: TNG, Adecco, SEB, DNB, Byggmax, Cloetta, Samhall and Swedish municipalities such as Nacka and Gävle, among others.
What the interview is like
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Format | A browser dialogue with an AI avatar; answer out loud, tap an option or type a short reply |
| How you get it | A link in the invitation sent with your application |
| Length | About 20 minutes with no time limit, according to Tengai; a shorter screening version of about 10 minutes also exists |
| Languages | English and Swedish |
| Feedback | Immediate verbal and written feedback at the end |
What it scores
- Competencies, personality and behavior using questions grounded in the Five-Factor Model, and potential.
- The recruiter gets a ranked shortlist with scores.
- Everyone gets the same questions in the same order.
Rules and practicalities
- There is no time limit, and you can pause or close the page and resume at the last unanswered question.
- An optional practice interview saves nothing.
- Retake rules are not stated.
How to prepare
- Do the practice interview first.
- Use a smartphone or computer with a stable connection and an up-to-date browser, preferably Chrome.
- Tengai does not see your CV, so put everything you want the employer to know into your answers, using school or volunteer examples if you lack work experience.
- Answer honestly and consistently; personality questions look for patterns.
Answering well when an AI is asking
- Look at the camera, not your own image, and keep your face lit from the front.
- Answer in a clear structure: the situation, what you did, and the result, in about a minute or two.
- Use specific examples with numbers; AI scoring rewards concrete evidence of the skills in the job description.
- Pause briefly to think rather than filling silence with filler words.
For a free practice routine, see how to practice for an AI interview for free. Other AI interviewers work differently, so compare the HireVue AI interview, the Mercor AI interview and the Paradox Olivia interview.
Your rights and what happens next
After a Tengai interview, a recruiter usually reviews the scores, transcript or recording, often within days, and decides whether to move you forward; most vendors say a human makes the decision. If you hear nothing in a week or two, a short, polite follow-up to the recruiter is reasonable.
Depending on where you live, the law may give you rights over automated interviews. Illinois requires employers to explain and get consent before using AI to analyze video interviews, New York City requires bias audits and advance notice for automated hiring tools, and the EU AI Act treats AI used in recruitment as high risk. You can ask the employer how your recording is stored and who reviews it, and request an alternative if you need an accommodation.
Where CoPilot Interview fits
AI-led interviews are screening rounds you take on your own, and they almost always forbid outside help; some log tab switches, pasted text or a second voice. So the useful preparation is practice. CoPilot Interview is an AI interview assistant; its free AI mock interview builds questions from your résumé and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of ten, which is close to how many AI interviewers work. The free plan gives 15 minutes a day of live help in sessions of up to 15 minutes, with AI mock interviews included. On the day, follow your employer's rules and the instructions in your invitation.
Disclosure: CoPilot Interview is our product, so weigh what we say about it accordingly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Tengai interview?
A screening interview with an AI avatar that replaces the first phone call. A human recruiter reviews the results and makes the decision.
How long does the Tengai interview take?
About 20 minutes, with no time limit, according to Tengai. A shorter version of about 10 minutes also exists.
Does Tengai judge my appearance or accent?
Tengai says it does not judge age, looks, gender, accent or tone of voice and uses no facial recognition.
Which employers use Tengai?
Named users include TNG, Adecco, SEB, DNB, Byggmax, Cloetta and several Swedish municipalities.
Can I use an AI assistant during my Tengai interview?
No. AI-led screening interviews are meant to be answered on your own, and many log signals such as tab switches, pasted text or another voice. Practice beforehand instead, and follow your employer's rules.
Practice this interview before the real one
The AI mock interview builds questions from your resume and the job description, reads them aloud and scores each spoken answer out of 10. Included on the free plan.
Start a mock interview