Google Ties AI Use to Employee Performance Reviews

Technology giant Google has begun linking employee performance reviews to the use of artificial intelligence tools, according to a report by Business Insider.

The move comes months after CEO Sundar Pichai encouraged staff to become more “AI-savvy” and use artificial intelligence to improve productivity.

AI Usage Now a Review Metric

Managers across both technical and non-technical teams have reportedly informed employees that their use of AI tools will be factored into performance evaluations later this year.

In some cases, sales employees have been given weekly targets for using specific AI tools. Engineers, meanwhile, already have AI-related responsibilities integrated into their job descriptions.

A Google spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider that managers have the discretion to assess employees based on how effectively they use AI in their roles.

From Encouragement to Expectation

The shift follows remarks made by Sundar Pichai during an all-hands meeting last July. At the time, he reportedly said that Google needed to boost productivity and keep pace with competitors who were adopting AI internally.

Since then, internal communications have reflected a stronger push toward AI integration. In June last year, engineering vice president Megan Kacholia emailed software engineers, asking them to use AI coding tools. Their job descriptions were updated to reflect this expectation.

Now, similar standards are being applied to non-technical roles.

Internal AI Tools

Google has developed several in-house AI tools to support this transition.

• Duckie: A version of Google’s Gemini AI trained on internal documentation.

• Goose: A coding assistant designed for engineers.

• Yoodli: An AI-powered tool that allows sales teams to practise customer interactions.

During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi stated that around 50% of Google’s code is now generated by AI agents and later reviewed by human engineers. This marks an increase from the 30% figure mentioned by Pichai in April last year.

Industry-Wide Trend

Google is not alone in making AI use part of employee evaluations.

Meta has reportedly informed staff that future reviews will consider AI-driven impact.

Microsoft leadership has also indicated that AI adoption is becoming essential rather than optional.

The broader trend suggests that AI integration is moving from an experimental tool to a core workplace expectation across major technology firms.

What This Means for Employees

For Google employees, the message appears clear: AI adoption is no longer optional. It is becoming a measurable part of job performance.

As companies increasingly embed artificial intelligence into everyday workflows, employee evaluations are evolving to reflect this shift.