Google cofounder Sergey Brin revealed in a recent ‘All In’ podcast episode that he’s been leveraging AI for various leadership tasks since returning to the company in 2023. Brin’s AI usage includes managing teams at Gemini, Google’s large language model division, where he uses the technology for task delegation and identifying high-performing employees.
Brin explained that he used an AI tool to summarize lengthy group chat discussions, saying, ‘It could suck down a whole chat space and then answer pretty complicated questions.’ He then directed the AI to assign tasks to team members based on the summary. While there were some indications that AI was involved when Brin pasted the AI-generated content back into the chat, he noted that the process ‘worked remarkably well.’
In another instance, Brin used the AI to identify potential candidates for promotion within the team. The AI highlighted a young female engineer who hadn’t been particularly vocal but had been working diligently on various projects. Brin discussed this with the team manager, who confirmed the AI’s assessment. The engineer was subsequently promoted.
Brin’s adoption of AI for management tasks aligns with other tech executives who are increasingly incorporating AI into their daily workflows. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently shared that he uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini as a ‘tutor’ daily, while Duolingo’s CTO has made AI a key part of his leadership approach. However, not all tech leaders are embracing AI for management tasks – LinkedIn’s COO Dan Shapero expressed reservations about relying on AI for tasks that require human connection and inspiration.
AI in Leadership Roles
Brin’s comments highlight the growing trend of using AI in leadership positions, particularly for tasks such as data analysis and task management. While AI shows promise in these areas, the limitations of current AI technology in replacing human judgment and emotional intelligence remain a topic of discussion among industry leaders.
