May 15, 2026
Harvard Business Review recently published an article by Chris Dellarocas, Richard C. Shipley Professor in Information Systems, discussing how generative AI could transform, or further complicate employee performance reviews.
Rather than simply using AI to draft more polished evaluations, Dellarocas argues organizations should use AI to surface real evidence of employee impact, including decision-making, mentorship, collaboration, and problem-solving embedded in day-to-day work.
“A single consequential episode—where an employee challenged a flawed assumption, redirected a failing project, or aligned stakeholders around a difficult trade-off—often reveals more about capability than a page of evaluative language,” Dellarocas writes, emphasizing that AI should help organizations move from subjective narratives toward more transparent, evidence-based evaluation systems.
The article ultimately highlights how AI may reshape not only performance management, but the broader future of leadership, accountability, and talent development in the workplace.
