Applied Statistics and Probability

Tech Deep DiveOpenAILast reported March 2026Medium Frequency
Reported
9× across candidate reports
First seen
February 2025
Last reported
March 2026
Reported outcome
mixed

Problem Overview

A 75-minute OpenAI Research onsite round that integrates probability theory, applied statistics, mathematical derivations, and Python/NumPy coding. The round is open-ended and may cover any combination of: (1) deriving distributions from first principles (e.g., showing that impact positions of particles from a point light source emitted toward an infinite vertical…

  • 4 candidate-reported follow-ups — the exact probes interviewers asked, with the trigger for each
  • The rest of the problem statement — full requirements, constraints, and edge cases
  • Approach and trade-offs — what passing candidates did, and the mistakes that sink people
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Verified Source
Every question is reconstructed from multiple independent candidate reports. Verbatim follow-ups, not invented ones.
Codex Fact-Checked
Technical claims, formulas, and scale numbers are reviewed against primary sources.
Interviewer Follow-ups
The exact follow-ups reported by candidates, with the trigger that prompts each one — plus the mistakes that sink people.
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