Google is facing criticism after requesting U.S. employees to share personal health data with the AI tool Nayya to access benefits, raising concerns about privacy and consent.
Google has found itself in a contentious situation following its request for U.S. employees to share personal health information with an AI tool named Nayya. This request, revealed in an internal document reviewed by Business Insider, was made to employees seeking health benefits through Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, during the upcoming enrollment period.
According to the initial guidelines, employees who opted out of sharing their data with Nayya would not be eligible for any health benefits. This stipulation has sparked significant backlash, with many employees expressing concerns over privacy, consent, and data governance.
In response to the growing criticism, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini clarified the company’s position. She stated, “Our intent was not reflected in the language on our HR site. We’ve clarified it to make clear that employees can choose to not share data, without any effect on their benefits enrollment.” This statement aims to reassure employees that their participation in the data-sharing initiative is not mandatory for accessing health benefits.
The AI tool in question, Nayya, was developed to assist employees in navigating their healthcare benefits more effectively. Mencini noted that Nayya has passed Google’s internal security and privacy checks, which were designed to ensure the safety of employee data.
Nayya, founded in 2020 by Sina Chehrazi and Akash Magoon, is a New York-based company specializing in AI solutions for managing and optimizing healthcare and financial benefits. The platform employs advanced AI technology to provide personalized recommendations and streamline complex administrative tasks, such as claims processing. Currently, Nayya serves over three million employees across more than 1,000 organizations, integrating with major HR systems like Workday and ADP to enhance the benefits experience.
In September 2025, Nayya expanded its offerings by acquiring Northstar, a financial wellness company, and launching its “SuperAgent” AI assistant. This new tool proactively assists employees by enrolling them in wellness programs and appealing denied claims, thereby creating a more comprehensive benefits experience. Throughout its operations, Nayya emphasizes strong data privacy and user consent, striving to maintain transparency and build trust with its users.
While AI platforms like Nayya provide valuable efficiencies—such as simplifying benefits navigation and automating claims—they also raise significant concerns regarding data privacy and consent. For Google, a leader in technology and innovation, this incident may prompt a critical reassessment of how it manages employee data governance, transparency, and the ethical deployment of AI technologies.
Successfully addressing these issues will be crucial for maintaining employee trust and protecting Google’s reputation in an increasingly privacy-conscious landscape.
Source: Original article