Managers Have Adopted AI for Employee Performance Reviews
As managers lean on AI to draft feedback, employees are increasingly using the same tools to practice difficult workplace conversations.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Job Search
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A survey of 1,034 corporate employees found that 78% of managers used AI to draft, edit, or summarize performance feedback over the last year. While many employees appreciate the increased clarity, a significant portion reports that AI-assisted reviews feel more generic.
Why it matters
Managers are leveraging AI to accelerate the feedback preparation process, but this shift creates a divide in perceived utility for staff. For operators, this highlights a tension between administrative efficiency and the nuanced, interpersonal quality required for effective talent management.
A survey of 1,034 corporate employees found 78% of managers used AI for feedback tasks, though only 16% of staff were informed of its role. While 54% of employees find the resulting feedback more actionable, 32% report that AI-assisted assessments are actually less useful.
The players
Highwire
A research entity that tracks workplace trends and corporate employee sentiment through large-scale surveys.
The details
Managers primarily use AI to format or summarize observations, aiming to reduce the time required to prepare for review cycles. Concurrently, nearly 1 in 4 employees have turned to AI avatars to practice difficult workplace conversations, a strategy often filling a gap where formal managerial support is unavailable. Although 44% of employees report having access to human-led practice, the trend toward AI-coaching reflects a broader move to automate skill development in soft-skills training.
Timeline
Last year, 78% of managers used AI for performance review tasks.
In June 2026, an Atlassian study found that over-reliance on AI use had backfired for some teams.
Market Landscape
This trend toward AI-mediated management follows the findings of a June 2026 Atlassian study, which warned that reliance on automated processes can sometimes backfire. The current data illustrates the ongoing struggle to balance operational efficiency with the human requirements of staff development.
Owners should evaluate whether their managers are relying too heavily on AI tools for sensitive personnel discussions, which risks damaging employee trust. Ensure that AI is used only for summary formatting, while core coaching and evaluative conversations remain human-led.
The takeaway
The rise of AI in performance reviews creates a high risk of feedback appearing generic and losing its developmental impact. Operators should verify that performance metrics remain tethered to direct observation rather than automated summaries.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce dynamics, see our Job Search section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ZDNet.
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Do you trust AI-generated performance reviews to provide useful feedback for your career?
