By Blessing Nweke
Meta has announced plans to monitor how its employees work, including tracking keystrokes and mouse movements, as part of a new push to train advanced artificial intelligence systems.
The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, informed staff on Tuesday that a new internal tool will log activity across company-issued computers and applications. The collected data will be used to improve AI models designed to replicate and assist with everyday digital tasks.
A Meta spokesperson said the initiative is necessary to build effective AI agents. “Our models need real examples of how people actually use computers,” the spokesperson told the News, adding that safeguards are in place to protect sensitive information and that the data will not be used for other purposes.
However, the move has sparked unease among employees. One worker described the initiative as “very dystopian,” especially amid fears of further job cuts. Another former employee said the tool reflects a growing obsession with AI within the company.
Meta has already cut around 2,000 jobs this year and recently implemented a partial hiring freeze. Job listings have dropped sharply, from about 800 roles in March to just seven currently advertised, fueling concerns about deeper layoffs.
The tracking system, known internally as the Model Capability Initiative, represents a shift toward using employee behavior directly as AI training data. While Meta has long had access to internal activity, using it specifically for AI development is new.
Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to significantly increase AI investment, with the company planning to spend about $140bn on the technology in 2026.
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