Why AI In Performance Management Falls Short Without Real-Time Signals

InnovationWhy AI In Performance Management Falls Short Without Real-Time SignalsByCheryl Johnson,Forbes Councils Member.for Forbes Technology CouncilCOUNCIL POSTExpertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Opinions expressed are those of the author. | Membership (fee-based)May 11, 2026, 10:15am EDTCheryl Johnson is the CTPO of Betterworks, shaping product strategy that redefines performance management practices for global enterprises. gettyAI has become so embedded in daily workflows that its use is closer to the rule than the exception. The percentage of U.S. employees who reported using AI at work at least a few times a year increased from 40% to 45% between the second and third quarters last year, according to Gallup research.As it happens, AI is also reshaping how employees gauge their work performance, from brainstorming and writing reviews to creating professional goals. HR leaders are on board with this development, with 49% of the about 430 HR leaders surveyed by my company considering AI use as the top influencer of employee performance. However, Gartner research found that only 8% of HR leaders feel their managers have the skills to leverage AI effectively.One issue is that, while AI no doubt saves employees’ valuable time, tracking performance only at the point of review may mean the insights are based on data coming too late for AI to analyze the complete picture.One way that employees and their managers can benefit from AI-led performance tracking is by continuously incorporating signals. However, this involves a shift in capturing data and understanding what signals are valuable. ​Why AI Only Shows Up When The Work Is DoneMost of the talk about AI use in performance management entails people writing self-reviews, summarizing feedback and polishing their manager evaluations.This usage saves time and money, but it also typically occurs after the work is complete. The AI is summarizing performance. It is operating at the moment of refle...