How AI is Transforming Self-Appraisals—Making Them Easier and Fairer for Employees and Managers

Performance reviews are often dreaded—evaluating a year’s worth of your hard work can feel overwhelming, and many struggle to articulate their achievements objectively. But AI is changing that, making self-assessments more efficient, balanced, and even empowering—especially for groups like women, who often face biases in traditional reviews.

The Rise of AI in Performance Reviews

AI-powered tools are increasingly being used to streamline self-appraisals, helping employees structure their evaluations and align them with company goals. According to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index, 75% of knowledge workers—including engineers, scientists, and lawyers—already use AI in some capacity.

The demand is clear: When Oracle introduced an AI-driven performance review system in 2023, 89% of employees said they were willing to be early adopters.

“That shows how much people believe in this technology and how much they need it,” said Triparna de Vreede, a professor at the University of South Florida who studies AI and workplace well-being.

Why Traditional Reviews Fall Short

Conventional performance evaluations are often subjective, influenced by recency bias (where recent mistakes overshadow past successes) and workplace power dynamics. Employees may not always understand how their work contributes to broader business goals, while managers can struggle to provide unbiased feedback.

“If you did great things all year but made one mistake last month, that can overshadow everything,” de Vreede explained. “AI helps standardize feedback so employees don’t feel like favoritism is at play.”

How AI Improves the Process

1. Reducing Bias – AI tools analyze data objectively, helping employees articulate achievements without self-doubt or exaggeration.
2. Encouraging Openness – People often share more with AI than with managers, believing it will assess them more fairly.
3. Tracking Hidden Contributions – AI can log tasks that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as mentorship or team support—valuable for women, who often take on unrecognized “invisible work.”

The Gender Gap in Self-Assessments

Women frequently face challenges in performance reviews. A Textio study found that 38% of feedback for high-performing women contained exaggerated or clichéd language, and 75% were called “emotional”—compared to just 11% of men.

Additionally, women tend to undersell their achievements. A 2022 National Bureau of Economic Research study found that women rated their performance at 46 out of 100, while men gave themselves 61.

“AI can help women confidently showcase their impact without imposter syndrome getting in the way,” said de Vreede.

The Human Touch Still Matters

Despite AI’s benefits, human oversight remains crucial. Privacy concerns, transparency about data usage, and ensuring softer skills (like communication and teamwork) are evaluated fairly all require human judgment.

“AI can’t fully understand human nuances, but it can prompt employees to reflect on them,” de Vreede noted. “The best reviews come from a collaboration between AI and the employee—not just AI doing all the work.”

The Future of AI in Performance Reviews

Companies like Oracle and Textio (used by 25% of Fortune 500 firms) are already refining AI-powered evaluations. However, de Vreede cautions against over-reliance: employees must still self-refect rather than letting AI do all the thinking.

“AI can draft your review, but you need to refine it,” she said. “Otherwise, the evaluation loses its meaning.”

As AI continues to evolve, it promises to make performance reviews less stressful, more accurate, and fairer for everyone—finally turning a dreaded process into one that actually helps employees grow.

Salesforce AI can significantly enhance performance reviews by automating tasks, analyzing data, and providing actionable insights. AI tools can help streamline the review process, generate clearer and more unbiased feedback, and even predict future performance trends. Salesforce Einstein, for example, can analyze vast amounts of employee data to identify patterns and generate insights that inform performance reviews. 

Here’s how Salesforce AI can be used in performance reviews:

1. Automating and Streamlining the Process:

• Data Collection and Organization: AI can automatically gather and organize data from various sources, including manager notes, peer feedback, self-evaluations, and customer interactions. 
• Performance Metric Identification: AI can identify key performance metrics based on role requirements and company goals, ensuring that reviews focus on the most relevant areas. 
• Automated Review Drafts: AI can generate initial drafts of performance reviews based on collected data, saving managers time and effort. 

2. Enhancing Accuracy and Objectivity:

• Bias Detection: AI can be used to detect and mitigate potential biases in feedback, ensuring that reviews are fair and objective. 
• Data-Driven Insights: AI can provide data-driven insights into employee performance, helping managers identify areas for improvement and development. 
• Predictive Analytics: AI can predict future performance trends based on past data, allowing for proactive talent management. 

3. Providing Actionable Insights:

• Personalized Development Plans: AI can generate personalized development plans based on individual performance data and career goals.
• Skill Gap Analysis: AI can identify skill gaps and recommend training or development opportunities.
• Performance Improvement Strategies: AI can suggest specific strategies for improving performance in areas where employees are underperforming. 

Examples of Salesforce AI Tools for Performance Reviews:

• Salesforce Einstein: Salesforce’s flagship AI platform offers various capabilities, including natural language processing, machine learning, and predictive analytics, which can be leveraged to enhance performance reviews. 
• Salesforce Einstein Copilot: Can assist in creating personalized communication, automating tasks, and analyzing data related to employee performance. 
• AI-powered platforms like Macorva’s Radiant AI®: Can analyze employee data from various sources and generate clear, unbiased performance reviews.