Managers are using AI to determine raises, promotions, layoffs
(NewsNation) — Artificial intelligence (AI) isn't just changing workflows, it's deciding who moves up and who gets the boot.
According to a new Resume Builder survey of 1,342 U.S. managers, 6 in 10 said they use AI tools to make decisions about their direct reports.
Even more striking is that most managers who use AI said they've turned to it for high-stakes calls, such as determining raises, promotions and even who to let go.
Yet two-thirds of those using AI admitted they haven't received training on how to manage people with it, the survey found.
ChatGPT was the most popular tool among AI-using managers, with 53% citing it as their go-to. Nearly 30% said they primarily use Microsoft’s Copilot, while 16% said they mostly use Google’s Gemini.
Other surveys have shown that managers are more likely than their employees to use AI, but the latest findings suggest a dystopian future where leadership loses its human touch entirely.
"While AI can support data-driven insights, it lacks context, empathy, and judgment," Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder, warned in a statement.
Haller said it's essential not to lose the "people" in "people management," pointing out that AI reflects the data it's given, which can be flawed and manipulated.
The concern is real enough that lawmakers have introduced legislation to limit AI's role in employment decisions.
In March, a California state senator introduced the "No Robo Bosses Act," aimed at preventing employers from letting AI make key decisions — such as hiring, firing or promotions — without human oversight.
"AI must remain a tool controlled by humans, not the other way around," California State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said in a release announcing the legislation.
While generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini have only been mainstream for a few years, they're already reshaping how people work — and how they look for work.
Recent college graduates have taken notice, as the rise of AI chips away at entry-level white collar roles, helping create one of the toughest job markets in years.
Meanwhile, employers are getting buried in AI-generated resumes.
The number of applications submitted on LinkedIn has surged more than 45% in the past year, and the platform is now clocking an average of 11,000 applications a minute, according to the New York Times.
Resume Builder's survey doesn't detail exactly how managers are using AI to automate personnel decisions. After all, there's a big difference between organizing metrics for a performance review and asking ChatGPT: "Should I fire Steve?"