I'm not sure when interns stopped being part of the hiring chain, but I remember almost universally circa 2010 or 2011 in the great recession, almost every single intern and co-op student I knew were told bluntly there would be absolutely no hiring of them into full time roles.

Up until the great recession it was pretty normal, almost expected, that a good internship turned into a good job offer.

I'm guessing that just never reversed.