Latest news with #RBKS
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
If you want promotion, show us…: Amazon has a new rule for employees in its smart home department
employees working in the company's smart-home division must now demonstrate how they use artificial intelligence tools to qualify for promotions, according to a new policy announced by Ring founder Jamie Siminoff. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The requirement affects workers at Amazon's RBKS organization , which includes Ring security cameras, Blink devices, Key delivery service, and Sidewalk wireless network. The policy, effective in the third quarter of 2025, mandates that promotion applicants detail their AI usage and provide examples of projects with measurable outcomes. Managers must additionally prove they've accomplished "more with less" using AI technology while reducing or maintaining current headcount levels. Ring CEO asks the department embrace AI-driven performance metrics Siminoff's directive aligns with broader industry trends as major technology companies integrate AI proficiency into employee evaluations. Shopify announced in April that managers must demonstrate AI cannot perform a role before making new hires, while Microsoft has begun evaluating some employees based on their use of internal AI tools, Business Insider reported. The policy comes two months after Siminoff returned to Amazon following a two-year absence, replacing former RBKS division leader Liz Hamren. His return coincides with CEO Andy Jassy's push to restore Amazon's startup culture and embrace efficiency-driven practices. In an email to staff obtained by Business Insider, Siminoff emphasized the policy aims to reward "innovative thinking" and reinforce speed and efficiency—core elements of Jassy's current vision for the company. "We are reimagining Ring from the ground up with AI first," Siminoff wrote, describing the initiative as having "the same energy and potential to revolutionize how we do neighborhood safety." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amazon pushes workforce efficiency through AI adoption The new promotion requirements represent part of Siminoff's broader push for AI integration within RBKS operations. Since June, he has encouraged employees to use AI tools at least once daily to boost productivity levels. Amazon CEO Jassy previously indicated that AI implementation would reduce the company's workforce due to improved operational efficiency. The RBKS policy specifically requires employees to describe how they've used generative AI or other AI technologies to enhance customer experience or increase operational efficiency when applying for advancement opportunities. A Ring spokesperson confirmed to Business Insider the promotion initiative applies exclusively to RBKS employees and does not extend company-wide.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
If Amazon Ring staff want a promotion, they must now prove they've used AI
Amazon's smart home business will now require employees seeking promotions to prove AI use and ask managers to demonstrate better efficiency using the technology in a new policy announced by Ring founder and Amazon division head Jamie Siminoff. To move up the corporate ladder at Amazon's smart-home businesses, employees will now have to show AI use and those in management positions will have to prove they are accomplishing 'more with less' using the technology.. The new policy, which starts in the third quarter of this year, was announced by Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, who oversees Amazon's Ring and Blink security cameras, Key in-home delivery service, and Sidewalk wireless network, in an email Wednesday detailing that all promotion applications at the tech giant's RBKS organization must now detail how employees are using AI to perform their duties. A Ring spokesperson confirmed the promotion initiative in a statement to Fortune. Siminoff's rule, however, only applies to RBKS employees, not Amazon at large. The change comes two months after Siminoff returned to Amazon, replacing former RBKS division leader Liz Hamren. His return to the company came amid a broader push by CEO Andy Jassy to re-embrace Amazon's startup roots. Siminoff's AI policy, according to a copy of the email seen by Business Insider, is meant to reward 'innovative thinking' and promote a culture of speed and efficiency, both key tenets of Jassy's current vision for Amazon. In his email, Siminoff outlined that employees seeking a promotion would now have to describe how they have used generative AI or other AI tools to improve operational efficiency or customer experience. Employees will also be asked to provide examples of AI projects they've worked on and these projects' outcomes. For managers, Siminoff wrote that they would need to demonstrate how they've used AI to accomplish 'more with less,' while reducing or not expanding headcount. The policy appears in line with comments made by Jassy last month that AI would reduce the tech company's workforce due to improved efficiency. Other Big Tech companies are making similar changes. Shopify announced in April that before managers could hire anyone new, they would have to prove AI couldn't do a job better. And Microsoft has begun asking some managers to evaluate employees based on their use of internal AI tools. Siminoff's latest change is one of several at Amazon's RBKS pushing for deeper integration of AI and better efficiency. Since June, he's encouraged employees to use AI at least once a day to improve productivity. 'We are reimagining Ring from the ground up with AI first,' Siminoff wrote in a recent email to staff obtained by Business Insider. 'It feels like the early days again — same energy and the same potential to revolutionize how we do our neighborhood safety.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Entrepreneur
5 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Amazon Ring Founder: Use AI If You Want a Promotion
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff is back at Amazon after a two-year break, now leading the tech giant's home security camera division as a VP. The division is called RBKS for its entities: Ring, Blink, Key (in-home delivery service), and Sidewalk (wireless network). And according to an email viewed by Business Insider, if employees at RBKS want a promotion, their applications will now have to describe how they use AI at work. This is meant to reward "innovative thinking" and promote speed and efficiency, Siminoff wrote. Related: 'No Longer Optional': Microsoft Staff Mandated to Use AI at Work "When we combine innovative technology with our missions, we create something truly special," Siminoff wrote in the email viewed by Business Insider. Siminoff famously pitched his video doorbell company, then called "Doormat," on "Shark Tank" in 2013 and left without a deal. Then, after the company was acquired in 2018 for a reported $1 billion by Amazon, he went back on the show, this time as a Shark investor, sitting alongside Kevin O'Leary and Mark Cuban, the same people who rejected him years prior. Amazon isn't the only tech giant that's requiring the use of AI for promotions and performance reviews. In June, Microsoft also began considering formal metrics for evaluating how much employees use AI during the workday. Julia Liuson, president of the developer division at Microsoft, reportedly sent an email to managers that said "using AI is no longer optional," and the time spent using internal AI tools, both in-house and from the competition, should be measured in employee performance reviews. Related: Duolingo's CEO Clarifies AI Stance After Backlash — Read the Memo
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Amazon's Smart-Home Employees Must Now Prove AI Skills to Earn Promotions
Amazon is setting a new precedent in how it evaluates employee performance—at least within its smart-home division. Employees working in teams behind Ring, Blink, and Key—Amazon's RBKS (Ring, Blink, Key, and Services) unit—must now prove how effectively they are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to be considered for promotions. This internal policy shift, first reported by Business Insider, was confirmed through a company-wide email from Jamie Siminoff, the founder of Ring and current head of RBKS. Siminoff, who returned to Amazon earlier this year following a two-year hiatus, shared that promotions within the unit will now hinge on demonstrated use of AI in daily responsibilities. According to the policy, employees must present clear examples of how they've used AI—including generative AI—to enhance the customer journey or improve internal workflows. These examples must not only illustrate what tools were used but also outline measurable outcomes from the project or initiative. The rule applies solely to the RBKS organization and does not extend across the broader Amazon workforce—at least not yet. A Ring spokesperson clarified this point but noted that the policy reflects a broader trend in tech where AI is no longer viewed as a niche skill but as a fundamental competency. Siminoff explained the rationale behind the move, stating that the combination of technology and purpose-driven goals can yield 'special' outcomes. He emphasized that this new approach is intended to foster a culture of innovation, efficiency, and intelligent problem-solving. While the specifics of how the company will monitor compliance with the new rule were not detailed, Siminoff noted that the process will evolve over time as the company continues to learn and refine its practices. Managers, in particular, are expected to set the example. They must not only demonstrate how they have used AI to improve results but also how they've achieved operational gains without expanding their teams. This signals a growing emphasis on doing more with less—leaner, smarter workflows over headcount increases. Amazon is not alone in this shift. Other tech companies have begun weaving AI expectations into employee evaluations. Shopify, for instance, now requires hiring managers to justify that a new role can't be handled more efficiently by AI before filling the position. Microsoft is also reportedly integrating AI usage into employee performance reviews. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has publicly acknowledged the rising influence of AI in company operations. Recently, he warned that the efficiency gains from AI could result in fewer roles in the long term. As AI transforms business operations, companies like Amazon are taking steps to ensure their workforce adapts accordingly. For smart-home staff at Amazon, excelling in their current roles may no longer be enough. Demonstrating how AI is part of their value creation strategy could become the new baseline for career growth.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Using AI at work? It might help you get promoted at Amazon
Employees working in Amazon's smart-home businesses like Ring, Blink, and Key will now have to demonstrate how they are using artificial intelligence (AI) at work if they want to move up the ladder, according to Business Insider. This new condition is part of a recently introduced policy by Jamie Siminoff, the founder of Ring, who is currently heading Amazon's RBKS a company-wide email, Siminoff informed employees that promotions within RBKS will now depend on how well they use AI tools in their day-to-day work. Employees will be required to explain how they've used AI, including generative AI to improve the customer experience or make internal operations more efficient. Those applying for promotions must also provide real examples of AI projects they have worked on and explain the results they've change will only apply to Amazon's RBKS unit, not the entire company, according to a spokesperson for Ring. However, the move shows how tech companies, including Amazon, are beginning to treat AI as a core skill rather than just an optional advantage. Siminoff, who returned to Amazon earlier this year after a two-year break, believes this step will help encourage a culture that values innovation, speed, and smart thinking. In his message to employees, he emphasised that combining technology with purpose-driven goals can lead to 'special' outcomes. While he didn't go into detail about how the policy will be monitored, he did mention that the company will keep improving and learning as it the policy places additional expectations on managers. Those in leadership positions will not only have to show how they've used AI to get better results, but also how they've managed to achieve more without increasing the number of employees. The idea is to focus on efficiency and innovation, rather than just team is not alone in tying employee performance to AI usage. Other companies are also heading in a similar direction. Shopify, for example, has made it mandatory for hiring managers to prove that a role cannot be done better by AI before bringing in a new person. Microsoft is also reportedly asking some managers to include an employee's use of AI tools in their performance Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has publicly spoken about AI's growing role in the company. In a recent statement, he said that AI could lead to fewer jobs in the future due to the efficiency it AI is no longer just a buzzword at tech firms. It's becoming a key part of how work is done and how people are judged. For employees at Amazon's smart-home division, this means that simply doing your job well may not be enough anymore. Showing how you're using AI tools to add value could be the new requirement for growth.- Ends
