Your algorithm will likely be an O(n^2) (n-squared) algorithm because you’ll be iterating over the data in an exponential way
Ok, so the technical interviewer mixes up exponential and polynomial run-time in a blog post about interviewing. Can you spot what's wrong with interviewing in SE?
The bigger problem is those who don't recognise the implications at all, or know but don't care. I've worked with both.
Actually I did exactly this when being interviewed, talked about exponential. The interviewer obviously got annoyed and moved on but didn't do the right thing which was to ask me to be precise. Had he, I could have said I meant quadratic. He didn't so we both lost an opportunity.
But putting this kind of thing into an article that has presumably been reviewed by multiple people does, in my view, a fair bit to undermine their credibility.
So if you're thinking of advocating for changes, a single enthusiastic person can often get it done!
Of course, you can only ever change interview processes you've already passed and you'll never have to pass again - so many people focus their attentions elsewhere.