Employee Data to Power AI Models as Meta Expands Automation Strategy

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta tells US employees it will install tracking software on work machines to boost AI development Meta has informed its employees in the United States that it will begin installing tracking software on company-issued computers to collect data such as mouse movements, clicks, keystrokes, and even occasional screen activity, as part of a major push to strengthen its artificial intelligence systems. The company says the goal is to use real human-computer interaction data to train advanced AI models that can perform everyday work tasks more efficiently and even autonomously—like navigating software, selecting options, or using shortcuts the way humans do.According to internal communications, this tracking will mainly operate on work-related applications and tools, and Meta has emphasized that the collected data will not be used for evaluating employee performance or during appraisals. However, the initiative is mandatory on company devices, with no opt-out option for employees using work laptops, which has sparked discomfort and criticism among staff. The move is part of Meta’s broader transformation toward an AI-driven workplace, where employees are expected to increasingly supervise and improve AI systems rather than perform routine tasks themselves.This comes at a time when the company is investing heavily in AI infrastructure, reorganising teams into AI-focused units, and even planning workforce restructuring to align with its long-term automation strategy While Meta maintains that safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information, the decision has raised concerns about privacy, workplace surveillance, and the growing role of AI in potentially reshaping jobs and employee roles in the tech industry