Jakarta, INTI - Meta installs new software on its employees' computers in the United States to record activities such as mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes. This data is used to train the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) models.
This step is part of the development of AI agents designed to perform work tasks autonomously. The software, called the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), operates on various work applications and websites and periodically takes screenshots of the employees’ screens.
This initiative focuses on improving AI models' capabilities in areas where they are weak, such as navigating drop-down menus and accurately using keyboard shortcuts. An internal document states that employee contributions through daily work activities can help accelerate the development of AI models.
Privacy Concerns and Meta’s Job Cuts
Responding to privacy concerns, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed that MCI data is not used for employee performance assessment, but solely for model training. He also stated that the company has implemented strict security measures to protect sensitive information.
This trend of utilizing AI is leading to a significant reduction in labor costs and is beginning to be adopted by many technology companies. Meta plans to lay off approximately 10% of its employees starting May 20, 2026, and is considering additional large cuts later this year. Meta is also urging its employees to use AI agents for programming, despite the potential for short-term process slowdowns.
Conclusion
Meta began collecting data on employee work activities in the US through MCI software, which records mouse movements, clicks, typing, and screenshots to train the company’s AI models. This program is part of the development of AI agents targeted to be able to perform work tasks autonomously. Meta emphasized that the data is not used for performance evaluation, although privacy issues remain a concern. This initiative seemingly follows the trend of AI usage in a workplace, with the company reportedly having plans to lay off 10% of its employees starting in May.
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