Less surprised about this outcome than that the guy was a Google engineer in the first place. Their hiring standards seem so high from the outside, yet this guy comes across as barely computer-literate, the kind who would have fervently demanded an in-person session with the ELIZA 'therapist' in the 70's.
He really should know better what's under the hood. I guess he got carried away by his impressions, or he's playing some game with the media and the impressionable public.
Google does not have high hiring standards, you do not grow to a 160,000 person organization nor double the size of your cloud org in a year by having high hiring standards.
Google has random hiring standards that are designed to give a perception of exclusivity. The "false positive" rejection gives Google the "hot girl" effect that makes engineers want to re-interview and then brag to their colleagues once they finally bag the offer.
Having been a Google reject, I thought this too. But I think there is a now almost an entire field of engineering which is "learn to get a FAANG job" which if you apply yourself too anyone get probably get in given enough time.
Also keep in mind that "big tech" doesn't mean a bigger number of engineers. In my experience with Big Tech, even if engineers make a reasonable part of the workforce, non-tech sectors are always bigger.
He really should know better what's under the hood. I guess he got carried away by his impressions, or he's playing some game with the media and the impressionable public.