According to Business Insider, Meta will begin grading employees on their “AI-driven impact” starting in 2026, making it a “core expectation” for performance reviews. Janelle Gale, Meta’s head of people, announced the policy in an internal memo seen by the publication. While individual AI metrics won’t be included in 2025’s reviews, employees are already encouraged to highlight their “AI-fueled wins” in self-assessments. The company is also rolling out an “AI Performance Assistant” for this year’s review cycle beginning December 8, allowing workers to use both Metamate and Google’s Gemini to write performance content. This follows Meta’s earlier moves to become AI-native, including allowing job applicants to use AI in coding interviews and creating an internal game called “Level Up” to incentivize AI adoption.
The AI Evaluation Era Begins
Here’s the thing – we’re witnessing the birth of a new corporate reality. When Meta says AI impact is becoming a “core expectation,” they’re basically telling employees: adapt or become irrelevant. And they’re not alone in this push. Microsoft executives have reportedly told managers that using AI is “no longer optional,” while Google’s Sundar Pichai has emphasized that employees need to embrace AI for the company to lead the race.
But there‘s something particularly Meta about their approach. They’re not just demanding AI usage – they’re creating an entire ecosystem around it. From using AI in hiring to grading AI usage in performance reviews to using AI to write those very reviews. It’s AI all the way down. The company that made its fortune understanding human behavior now seems determined to optimize it through artificial intelligence.
The Productivity Paradox
Now, the obvious question: does using AI actually make you better at your job, or just better at appearing productive? Meta’s approach suggests they believe it’s the former. They want to reward workers who use AI to drive “meaningful outcomes” and improve team performance. But how do you measure genuine impact versus just AI-assisted busywork?
There’s also the fascinating dynamic of using AI to evaluate AI usage. Employees will use Metamate and Gemini to write reviews about how they used AI. It creates this weird feedback loop where the tool becomes both the means and the measure of success. I can’t help but wonder if we’re heading toward a future where the most valuable skill isn’t using AI, but knowing when not to use it.
Corporate America’s AI Culture Shift
Look, what’s happening at Meta isn’t isolated – it’s the leading edge of a massive cultural shift across corporate America. Big Tech companies are essentially conducting a giant, real-time experiment in workforce transformation. They’re betting that forcing AI adoption will create competitive advantages, even if the immediate productivity gains aren’t always clear.
The timeline is telling too. 2025 is the warm-up year where employees get comfortable with the idea, and 2026 is when it becomes mandatory. That gives everyone about a year and a half to figure out how to make AI work for them before their performance ratings depend on it. It’s a pretty aggressive timeline, honestly.
What’s particularly interesting is that while this article focuses on software and AI tools, the industrial sector faces similar transformations. Companies like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com are seeing increased demand for industrial panel PCs that can handle AI-powered manufacturing applications. Basically, whether you’re writing code or running factory equipment, AI is becoming part of the job description.
The Human Element
So where does this leave actual human judgment and creativity? Meta’s memo emphasizes rewarding people who are “helping us get there faster” toward an AI-native future. But faster toward what, exactly? There’s a risk that in the rush to adopt AI, we might lose sight of what makes human-driven innovation special.
The most successful employees in this new environment will likely be those who can blend AI tools with genuine insight and creativity. The ones who use AI as a tool rather than a crutch. Because at the end of the day, even the best AI can only optimize what already exists – it still takes human imagination to create what doesn’t.
