'Automated Idiocy': AI monitoring software reports 30-second breaks to managers as red flags

While deploying employee monitoring software on staff devices has become commonplace in many businesses, the arrival of AI has the potential to increase surveillance to unprecedented levels. Concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in tracking employee activity were raised in a viral Reddit post, in which one user claimed that a "pretty big" productivity monitoring software suite can track not only keystrokes and programs, but also typing speed, websites visited, emails sent, and so on.

This monitoring program not only tracks an individual employee's usage but also compares it to that of other employees, generating 'red flag' reviews that are sent to management.

AI monitoring software reports breaks as red flags

Employee monitoring software has gone off the deep end with AI
byu/cawfee insysadmin

In his now-viral post, the Reddit user stated that he had "the pleasure of sitting through a sales pitch for a pretty big 'productivity monitoring' software suite" and discovered what AI can accomplish. Aside from typical services such as tracking keystroke movement and capturing screenshots of your desktop every few seconds, the software can perform more complex tracking using AI.

It enables a manager to assign people to a "work category." The software then uses AI to generate a productivity graph based on "all your mouse movement data, where you click, how fast you type, how often you use backspace, the sites you visit, the programs you open, and how many emails you send." AI is also used to compare this data to your coworkers' data, and any 'productivity gaps' are reported to your manager.

These red flags might be raised to indicate any perceived or actual productivity deficiencies. For example, if your desktop remains inactive for more than 30 to 60 seconds, you will see a red alert. If your workflow is constant Monday through Thursday but falls below the predefined aggregate data score on Friday, you receive a red flag.

The software company argues that it may utilize the data it collects for "workflow efficiency automation" while also offering AI automation services, generating further concerns on Reddit about AI displacing jobs.

People on the internet called it 'workplace dystopia'

New workplace dystopia just dropped.

AI monitoring software now flags you if you type slower than coworkers, take >30sec breaks, or checks notes have a consistent Mon-Thu but slightly different Friday.

Bonus: It's collecting your workflow data to help automate your job away. pic.twitter.com/Nkq0AkS7sp

¡ª Deedy (@deedydas) November 23, 2024

The Reddit article became popular on X, and one user described it as an example of "workplace dystopia." Others agreed. Several X users expressed concerns about growing surveillance at work using AI, while others dismissed the entire premise of monitoring employees.

The limits established for staff monitoring were also criticized as reductive and arbitrary.

Our stereotype of a lazy person (i.e. the couch potato) isn¡¯t very common in reality.

The true laziness we encounter routinely is companies and managers who focus on these kinds of micro-efficiencies rather than figuring out how to actually measure value.

¡ª Wolf of M Street (@WolfofMStreet) November 23, 2024

This is so lame.

A programmer's value should never be judged by typing speed, commit frequency, code length, or how often they take breaks.

Instead, evaluations should focus on their code quality, system thinking, collaboration skills, etc.

¡ª Yuchen Jin (@Yuchenj_UW) November 23, 2024

Surveillance-based systems like this will backfire particularly when metrics are reductive and fail to capture nuanced human contributions.

A better approach? Focus on outcome-driven metrics rather than invasive, input-based monitoring. AI should augment human creativity, not¡­

¡ª Srini Annamaraju (@SriniAnnamaraju) November 23, 2024

This will only be useful for lower skill work environments.

Call centers, data entry, stuff that's already on its way out.

There's no way you can realistically judge higher skill jobs on how fast they can type, how many clicks they make, etc.

Regardless, this is terrible.

¡ª Cory Chesebro (@itestinprd) November 23, 2024

Micromanagers gonna micromanage

Smart employees will find smart ways and just put in through discussion and other stuff

¡ª spicy takes (@spicy_memes4u) November 23, 2024

Also read: No phone, no talking: Man describes 'jail' like workplace environment, Redditors say 'resign'

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.