Google tells software engineers that they need permission to…

Google has implemented strict new guidelines requiring its software engineers to obtain approval before using external AI coding assistants, as the tech giant pushes employees to embrace its internal artificial intelligence tools instead, according to a Business Insider report.The directive came in a June email from Google engineering vice president Megan Kacholia, who told staff they must use only internal AI models for coding work. Engineers wanting to use third-party AI tools for non-coding tasks also need management sign-off first, sources familiar with the guidelines told Business Insider.The policy reflects Google's broader strategy to boost employee productivity through AI adoption while maintaining control over sensitive internal information.

CEO Sundar Pichai reinforced this message during a July all-hands meeting, telling employees they need to use AI tools to help Google compete against rivals who are also leveraging artificial intelligence.

Internal tools get priority as Google ramps up AI competition

Google has been aggressively promoting its internal AI coding platform called Cider, which runs various proprietary models including "Gemini for Google" - formerly known as Goose - trained specifically on the company's internal technical data.

Since Cider's May launch, 50% of users access the service weekly, according to company executives.The push comes as Google races against competitors like OpenAI in the AI coding space. Earlier this month, Google spent $2.4 billion to acquire key members of AI coding startup Windsurf, including CEO Varun Mohan, to advance its "agentic coding" capabilities.Engineering managers have been asking employees to demonstrate their daily AI usage, with some staff expecting this to factor into performance reviews.

Business Insider reported that updated job role profiles now include requirements for using AI to solve problems."It seems like a no-brainer that you need to be using it to get ahead," one current Google employee told the publication. However, a Google spokesperson said the company does not evaluate staff on AI usage as part of performance reviews, despite actively encouraging its adoption.Pichai has claimed that more than 30% of Google's code is now AI-generated, up from 25% last October, contributing to an estimated 10% productivity boost among engineers. The company joins other tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft in mandating employee AI adoption to maintain competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.