Menlo Park: Meta has introduced a new system to monitor how employees use their computers, including tracking keystrokes and mouse movements, as part of efforts to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models.
The company, which owns Instagram and Facebook, informed staff that the tool will operate across company devices and internal applications, collecting activity data to improve AI capabilities.
A company spokesperson explained that if Meta aims to build AI agents capable of assisting with everyday computer-based tasks, its systems must learn from real-world user behaviour.
The spokesperson emphasised that the collected data will be used solely for AI training purposes and includes safeguards to protect sensitive information. However, the move has raised concerns among employees.
One staff member, speaking anonymously, described the initiative as ‘very dystopian,’ particularly at a time when workers are already anticipating further job cuts. Another former employee criticised the approach, suggesting the company is aggressively pushing AI initiatives across all areas.
Meta has already reduced its workforce by around 2,000 employees this year through smaller rounds of layoffs, with expectations of deeper cuts in the near future. Last month, the company also introduced a partial hiring freeze, which now appears to have expanded significantly.
While its job listings website previously featured around 800 openings in March, it currently shows only a handful of roles available. The company declined to comment on these changes or any future layoff plans.
The new tracking system, referred to as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), was first reported by Reuters. While employee activity on company devices was already accessible internally, the dedicated use of such data specifically for training AI systems marks a new development.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing artificial intelligence, pledging increased investment in the sector.
Meta plans to allocate approximately $140 billion to AI in 2026, nearly double its previous spending. In 2025, the company invested $14 billion to acquire a significant stake in Scale AI and brought in several of its executives to strengthen its AI development efforts.
The first major output from Meta’s revamped Superintelligence Labs came last month with the release of its AI model, Muse Spark. By leveraging the data collected through its new tracking system, the company aims to further develop advanced AI tools.
Earlier this year, Zuckerberg stated that 2026 would mark a turning point for workplace transformation driven by AI. The CEO noted that tasks once requiring large teams are increasingly being handled by a single highly skilled individual, highlighting the rapid evolution of work through artificial intelligence.
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