Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Microsoft Employees Reveal AI Use Alongside Pay Data
Microsoft employees already shared information about their pay with one another.
Now, some are also sharing how much their AI tools appear to cost.
About 350 employees reported their AI use in a company spreadsheet.
The typical reported amount was about $300 over 28 days.
One person reported using $28,000 worth of AI in that period.
Different teams reported very different amounts.
The numbers are voluntary and may not be complete or perfectly accurate.
The information did not show that people who used more AI received better pay or promotions.
Hundreds of Microsoft employees voluntarily shared compensation details and AI usage in an internal spreadsheet.
About 350 employees reported AI usage, with a median reported cost of roughly $300 over 28 days.
One employee reported $28,000 in AI usage, the highest figure in the spreadsheet.
Reported AI costs ranged from a few dollars to tens of thousands across Microsoft organizations.
Business Insider found no significant link between AI consumption and promotions, raises, or bonuses.
- Who
- Microsoft employees, with the data analyzed by Business Insider.
- What
- Employees voluntarily reported compensation information and the estimated dollar value of their AI usage.
- When
- The AI figures covered the previous 28 days; Microsoft’s workforce total was reported as of June 30.
- Where
- Microsoft’s U.S. workforce and internal spreadsheet.
- Why
- Employees shared the information to encourage pay transparency, while Microsoft is testing a tool to track AI usage and promoting AI adoption.
- Highest reported AI usage
- $28,000 over 28 days
- Median reported AI usage
- Approximately $300 over 28 days
- Employees reporting AI usage
- Approximately 350
- Compensation entries
- Nearly 600 from U.S. staff
- Microsoft workforce
- 223,000 employees as of June 30
- Tracking tool status
- In early testing
- Data limitations
- The figures are voluntary, self-reported, unofficial, and incomplete