Latest news with #Liuson
Economic Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
AI might take your job, but ignoring it could too: Microsoft links performance reviews to AI usage
When Performance Reviews Go Robotic Trusting the Tool That Sometimes Lies From Optional to Inevitable You Might Also Like: Does ChatGPT suffer from hallucinations? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admits surprise over users' blind trust in AI AI, or Else? In what appears to be a corporate line in the sand, Microsoft is moving beyond AI evangelism and into enforcement. According to an internal email reported by Business Insider, the tech giant has begun directing managers to factor employees' AI usage into their performance evaluations—a decision that marks a striking cultural shift from adoption to Liuson, president of Microsoft's Developer Division, which oversees tools like GitHub Copilot, informed team leaders that artificial intelligence is no longer a choice. 'AI is now a fundamental part of how we work,' she wrote in a recent internal memo. 'Just like collaboration, data-driven thinking, and effective communication, using AI is no longer optional — it's core to every role and every level.' The message? Embrace AI or risk falling some Microsoft teams, performance reviews for the next fiscal year may include formal metrics that assess how well employees are integrating AI into their workflow. This move is reportedly motivated by what Microsoft sees as lagging internal adoption of its own Copilot tools—even among employees tasked with building them.A source familiar with the matter told Business Insider that the aim is to not only drive broader usage across the company but also ensure that those developing AI tools like GitHub Copilot genuinely understand how they're being used in practice. In a fiercely competitive landscape, where rivals like Cursor are gaining ground, Microsoft is doubling down on internal while Microsoft strongly promotes the use of its proprietary AI tools, it still permits employees to experiment with some external AI assistants—provided they meet company security protocols. Replit, a competing coding tool, is one such AI push comes amid broader questions about how much we should rely on artificial intelligence in the first place. In a recent podcast interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a candid admission: 'People have a very high degree of trust in ChatGPT, which is interesting because AI hallucinates. It should be the tech that you don't trust that much.'Altman's point wasn't lost on industry watchers. While AI tools can streamline coding, boost productivity, and assist in communication, they are far from infallible. Hallucinations—where the AI confidently generates false or misleading information—remain a well-documented flaw. And yet, the corporate world is being nudged toward full-blown where does that leave employees who may be wary of the risks? It appears caution is no longer an acceptable excuse. In the Microsoft ecosystem, the road to good performance now runs directly through responsible AI there's one thing this shift confirms, it's that AI in the workplace is no longer a novelty. What once sparked curiosity and experimentation has now become a professional requirement. Even tech visionaries like Peter Thiel have framed AI not as an ideal future but as a necessary one. In a recent appearance on the New York Times podcast Interesting Times, Thiel noted, 'AI might be enough to create some great companies, but I'm not sure it's enough to end the stagnation.'Despite his reservations, Thiel conceded that AI is the only visible force trying to disrupt an otherwise innovation-starved landscape. The question now is whether this disruption will bring about genuine transformation—or merely a new kind of compliance seen as a lifeboat from stagnation or a leash of digital conformity, Microsoft's policy signals a new age of workplace expectations. AI isn't just a tool anymore. It's a metric, a performance benchmark, and potentially, a career this AI-centric era, one thing is certain: If artificial intelligence doesn't replace your job, your failure to embrace it just might.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Microsoft Developer head to employees: Using … is no longer optional, as company considers another change to its performance review process
Microsoft is now asking managers to evaluate employees based on their use of internal AI tools, with the company considering adding formal metrics to its performance review process as it pushes for greater adoption of artificial intelligence across the organization. Julia Liuson , president of Microsoft's Developer Division responsible for tools like GitHub Copilot , recently instructed managers that AI usage "should be part of your holistic reflections on an individual's performance and impact." In an internal email, Liuson declared that "using AI is no longer optional — it's core to every role and every level." The evaluation changes are designed to address what Microsoft sees as lagging internal adoption of its Copilot AI services. Some teams are now considering including more formal AI usage metrics in performance reviews for the next fiscal year, according to sources familiar with the plans. Microsoft faces growing competition in AI coding market The push comes as Microsoft's GitHub Copilot faces increasing competition from rival AI coding services, including Cursor, which recent data suggests has surpassed GitHub Copilot in key developer market segments. The competitive pressure has even become a point of tension in Microsoft's ongoing partnership negotiations with OpenAI. Microsoft currently allows employees to use certain external AI tools that meet security requirements, including coding assistant Replit, while encouraging greater use of its internal AI services. Company tightens performance standards amid AI investment The AI evaluation initiative coincides with Microsoft's broader shift toward stricter performance management. The company recently implemented new policies including a two-year rehire ban for underperforming employees and introduced a "Global Voluntary Separation Agreement" offering 16 weeks of severance to low performers who voluntarily leave. Earlier this year, Microsoft terminated approximately 2,000 employees deemed underperformers and plans thousands more job cuts primarily targeting its sales division. These workforce changes reflect the company's efforts to balance massive AI investments, including roughly $80 billion in data center spending, with operational efficiency as it positions itself for what CEO Satya Nadella calls "the AI era.' AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Microsoft tells employees using AI is no longer optional, may impact performance reviews as more layoffs likely in July
Microsoft wants its employees to use its artificial intelligence tool. Not just use it—the company is reportedly planning to make AI tools one of the factors to evaluate performance of the employees. According to Business Insider, Microsoft is concerned about the low adoption rates of its own AI services and has therefore instructed managers to evaluate employees based on their use of internal AI an internal email to employees, Julia Liuson, president of the Developer Division, has reportedly outlined that the company is making it mandatory for employees. 'AI is now a fundamental part of how we work,' Liuson wrote. 'Just like collaboration, data-driven thinking, and effective communication, using AI is no longer optional — it's core to every role and every level.'Managers have also reportedly been asked to factor AI usage into their overall assessment of an employee's performance. Citing two sources familiar with the matter, the report reveals that some teams are considering introducing formal metrics tied to AI use in upcoming performance reviews. This shift is said to align with a broader strategy to improve internal usage of the company's own AI tools. Despite heavy promotion, Copilot's adoption inside the company hasn't met expectations, especially with rising competition from AI coding assistants like Cursor. Now, Microsoft wants employees—especially those building AI products—to use and understand these tools, while still allowing some secure external AI tools like layoffs in July 2025 advertisementMeanwhile, the internal push for AI tools comes at a time when the company has carried out multiple rounds of job cuts. Most of these layoffs have affected thousands of roles within its Xbox division and broader gaming operation. However, another round of layoffs is likely to come in July 2025. According to a Bloomberg report, thousands of jobs in the Xbox division are expected to be cut as soon as next week, as part of a broader company-wide restructuring. This would be the fourth round of job cuts affecting the Xbox unit since sources reportedly describe the upcoming job cuts as 'considerable,' particularly within the gaming business, which has been under financial expected layoffs follow the closure of multiple game studios and come amid rising pressure to improve profitability within Microsoft's gaming operations. The company completed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 and has since been focused on streamlining its gaming June alone, Microsoft laid off more than 300 employees, adding to the 6,000-plus positions eliminated in previous months. Overall, with earlier reductions, Microsoft has laid off over 6,300 employees in recent weeks.- Ends
Hans India
30-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Microsoft Mandates AI Tool Use, Links It to Employee Reviews Amid Fresh Layoff Concerns
Microsoft is taking a firm stance on AI integration within its workforce, now requiring employees to actively use the company's internal AI tools as part of their daily responsibilities. This move comes as the tech giant aims to boost adoption of its AI services and aligns with broader operational shifts—including more layoffs expected in July. According to a report from Business Insider, Microsoft managers have been instructed to factor AI tool usage into performance evaluations. In an internal memo, Julia Liuson, President of the Developer Division, emphasized the non-negotiable nature of AI in the modern workplace. 'AI is now a fundamental part of how we work,' Liuson wrote. 'Just like collaboration, data-driven thinking, and effective communication, using AI is no longer optional — it's core to every role and every level.' Sources familiar with the matter reveal that certain teams are even considering formal metrics to track how employees use AI, especially with concerns around low internal adoption of Microsoft's own AI offerings like Copilot. Despite substantial internal promotion, tools like Copilot reportedly haven't gained the expected traction, partly due to competition from external platforms such as Cursor. Now, Microsoft is emphasizing hands-on engagement with its AI tools—especially for employees directly involved in developing AI products. While a few secure third-party tools like Replit remain permitted, the focus is clearly shifting to in-house solutions. This policy shift arrives during a period of continued workforce reduction. After several rounds of layoffs, particularly within the Xbox division, sources suggest another significant wave of job cuts could happen as early as next week. Bloomberg reports indicate that thousands of gaming-related roles may be eliminated as part of an ongoing restructuring plan. The upcoming layoffs would mark the fourth time since 2023 that Microsoft has reduced headcount within its gaming unit. The division has faced mounting financial scrutiny following the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In June alone, over 300 employees were let go, adding to the more than 6,000 roles already cut in recent months. With internal adoption of AI tools now a top priority and financial efficiency under the microscope, Microsoft is sending a clear message: adaptability and AI proficiency are no longer optional—they are essential to staying on board.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How Microsoft's rift with OpenAI is making this a mandatory part of Microsoft's work culture
Microsoft 's deteriorating relationship with OpenAI is forcing the tech giant to make AI usage mandatory for employees, as competitive pressures from the partnership dispute drive workplace culture changes at the company. Lagging Copilot usage drives cultural shift at Microsoft "AI is no longer optional," Julia Liuson, president of Microsoft's Developer Division, told managers in a recent email obtained by Business Insider. She instructed them to evaluate employee performance based on internal AI tool usage, calling it "core to every role and every level." The mandate comes as Microsoft faces lagging internal adoption of its Copilot AI services while competition intensifies in the AI coding market. GitHub Copilot, Microsoft's flagship AI coding assistant, is losing ground to rivals like Cursor, which recent Barclays data suggests has surpassed Copilot in key developer segments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo OpenAI partnership tensions spill over into workplace policies The partnership tensions have reached a critical point where OpenAI is considering acquiring Windsurf, a competitor to Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, but Microsoft's existing deal would grant it access to Windsurf's intellectual property, creating an impasse that neither OpenAI nor Windsurf wants, sources familiar with the talks told Business Insider. Microsoft allows employees to use some external AI tools that meet security requirements, including coding assistant Replit. However, the company wants workers building AI products to better understand their own tools while driving broader internal usage. Some Microsoft teams are considering adding formal AI usage metrics to performance reviews for the next fiscal year, Business Insider learned from people familiar with the plans. The initiative reflects Microsoft's broader strategy to ensure its workforce embraces AI tools as competition heats up. Liuson emphasized that AI usage "should be part of your holistic reflections on an individual's performance and impact," treating it like other core workplace skills such as collaboration and data-driven thinking. The move signals how AI adoption has become essential to Microsoft's competitive positioning amid evolving partnerships and market pressures.
