Google has issued strict new guidelines requiring its software engineers to use only the company's internal artificial intelligence models for coding tasks, as pressure mounts for all employees to demonstrate AI proficiency or risk being left behind in performance evaluations.
Engineering Vice President Megan Kacholia sent an email to software engineers in June mandating the use of AI tools to improve coding productivity, according to a Business Insider report. The guidelines specify that engineers must seek approval before using any third-party AI tools for non-coding tasks, emphasizing exclusive reliance on Google's internal systems for software development work.
The directive comes as CEO Sundar Pichai delivered a clear message during a July all-hands meeting: employees need to embrace AI for Google to maintain its competitive edge. Several current Google employees, speaking anonymously, told Business Insider that managers are now asking staff to demonstrate their daily AI usage, with expectations that this will factor into upcoming performance reviews.
"It seems like a no-brainer that you need to be using it to get ahead," one Google employee said, while another noted that developing AI-powered workflows that benefit other team members is being actively rewarded.
AI adoption becomes competitive necessity at Google
Google's aggressive internal AI push reflects broader industry trends, with tech giants rushing to integrate artificial intelligence throughout their operations while competing for market dominance. The company reports measuring significant productivity gains, with Pichai stating that more than 30% of code written at Google is now AI-generated, up from 25% in October.
The updated engineer role profiles now explicitly mention using AI to solve problems, marking a formal shift in job expectations. Google has developed internal tools including Cider, a development platform featuring coding agents that run various internal models, including "Gemini for Google" - formerly known as Goose - which was specifically trained on the company's internal technical data.
Beyond coding, employees across sales and legal divisions are being encouraged to incorporate AI tools like NotebookLM into their workflows, with some receiving training to create custom versions of Google's Gemini AI for their specific roles.
The company recently invested $2.4 billion to acquire key talent from AI coding startup Windsurf, including CEO Varun Mohan, signaling Google's commitment to advancing "agentic coding" capabilities. While a Google spokesperson stated that AI usage is not formally evaluated in performance reviews, multiple employees expect their AI proficiency to influence career advancement opportunities.
Some internal resistance has emerged, with employees posting memes on Google's message board questioning whether truly effective technology requires mandated adoption to maintain job security.
Engineering Vice President Megan Kacholia sent an email to software engineers in June mandating the use of AI tools to improve coding productivity, according to a Business Insider report. The guidelines specify that engineers must seek approval before using any third-party AI tools for non-coding tasks, emphasizing exclusive reliance on Google's internal systems for software development work.
The directive comes as CEO Sundar Pichai delivered a clear message during a July all-hands meeting: employees need to embrace AI for Google to maintain its competitive edge. Several current Google employees, speaking anonymously, told Business Insider that managers are now asking staff to demonstrate their daily AI usage, with expectations that this will factor into upcoming performance reviews.
"It seems like a no-brainer that you need to be using it to get ahead," one Google employee said, while another noted that developing AI-powered workflows that benefit other team members is being actively rewarded.
AI adoption becomes competitive necessity at Google
Google's aggressive internal AI push reflects broader industry trends, with tech giants rushing to integrate artificial intelligence throughout their operations while competing for market dominance. The company reports measuring significant productivity gains, with Pichai stating that more than 30% of code written at Google is now AI-generated, up from 25% in October.
The updated engineer role profiles now explicitly mention using AI to solve problems, marking a formal shift in job expectations. Google has developed internal tools including Cider, a development platform featuring coding agents that run various internal models, including "Gemini for Google" - formerly known as Goose - which was specifically trained on the company's internal technical data.
Beyond coding, employees across sales and legal divisions are being encouraged to incorporate AI tools like NotebookLM into their workflows, with some receiving training to create custom versions of Google's Gemini AI for their specific roles.
The company recently invested $2.4 billion to acquire key talent from AI coding startup Windsurf, including CEO Varun Mohan, signaling Google's commitment to advancing "agentic coding" capabilities. While a Google spokesperson stated that AI usage is not formally evaluated in performance reviews, multiple employees expect their AI proficiency to influence career advancement opportunities.
Some internal resistance has emerged, with employees posting memes on Google's message board questioning whether truly effective technology requires mandated adoption to maintain job security.
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