Title: Google’s New AI Tool for Staff Meetings Sparks Employee Concerns Over Question Softening
Google’s recently introduced AI-driven system aimed at facilitating question-and-answer sessions during its monthly company meetings has raised eyebrows among employees, prompting concerns that it may allow leadership a convenient way to sidestep challenging inquiries.
Historically, Google utilized an internal platform known as Dory, where employees could submit their questions and collectively vote on those they deemed most pressing. During the company’s monthly “TGIF” meetings, CEO Sundar Pichai and other executives would typically respond to the top-rated questions, fostering an environment of openness and engagement.
However, a shift occurred in April when the Dory system was replaced by a new tool called Ask. This AI-based system aggregates and summarizes questions, but employees report that the method tends to dilute the substance of the inquiries. They are allowed to view the questions before they are summarized but can only upvote these AI-generated versions for leadership responses. Consequently, some employees believe this modification results in more benign, less confrontational questions being presented to management.
“They’re just trying to dodge damaging context and questions from being seen by a larger audience, avoiding any real engagement with the specifics of what employees are asking,” commented one anonymous Google employee.
In defense of the new system, a Google spokesperson clarified that Ask is intended to help reduce redundancy and streamline the process, asserting that executives still face direct questions on challenging issues. The spokesperson emphasized that Ask is still in its experimental phase and that employee feedback will be considered for further improvements.
Despite this, some employees have noted that the reformatted questions have rendered the TGIF meetings less engaging. Many have expressed that the sessions feel increasingly irrelevant, with several stating they seldom attend or participate.
The TGIF meetings have long been seen as a hallmark of Google’s commitment to transparency and open dialogue, where employees can candidly discuss the company’s trajectory with management. Originally held weekly, these meetings were reduced in frequency after a wave of employee activism, ultimately transitioning to a monthly format under Pichai’s leadership in 2019, with a focus on product and business strategies.
According to Google’s spokesperson, the Ask tool was partially developed in response to employee requests for a more comprehensive discussion across various topics. Notably, prior to the implementation of Ask in 2023, less than 1% of employees posed questions during these meetings. Since the introduction of the tool, however, the number of employees asking questions and voting has reportedly doubled.
Yet despite the uptick in participation, some employees argue that the effectiveness of the meetings remains compromised. “Executives have been dodging questions or giving very vague answers at TGIF for years now,” remarked one staff member.
As Google navigates this new phase of internal communication, the balance between efficiency and genuine engagement remains a critical point of contention among its workforce.
