I Talked To Workers At Meta, Amazon, & Microsoft About The AI Watching Them

Overview

The video reports that AI-powered workplace surveillance—often called “bossware”—is expanding beyond warehouses and call centers to tech employees. The reporter interviews more than a dozen workers, many anonymously, about how monitoring affects their jobs and privacy. The video states that about two-thirds of U.S. workers report being surveilled by technology.

Monitoring and Productivity Pressure

Nurses at Kaiser Permanente, including Sherri Shaw, say their call times, speed in answering phones, and other activity are tracked. Shaw says nurses are expected to keep calls to 13 minutes and that an emotion-AI pilot criticized her tone as insufficiently caring. Kaiser told the outlet that it does not use these metrics to assess performance. Shaw argues that pressure to work faster can put patient care at risk.

The video also cites algorithmic discipline in warehouses, AI cameras in Amazon delivery vehicles, and Burger King’s Patty assistant, which directs workers.

Opaque Scores and Data Collection

Reporter Mae Ryan installed bossware on her own computer. She found that it captured screen activity, flagged supposed rule violations, and assigned her a productivity score of 65%. Some activity it labeled unproductive—including research and work calls—was job-related.

A software representative said employers can use productivity trends to identify low performers and that workers do not necessarily need to be told the software is installed.

Concerns About AI Replacing Workers

Workers fear that data collected through monitoring could be used to build AI systems that perform their jobs. Ryan found that NiCE, the company recording Shaw’s calls, also develops AI call agents. Shaw suspects the recordings could help train AI, but the video says there is no proof her calls are used that way. NiCE did not respond to a request for comment.

An AI agent from another bossware company told Ryan that call recordings could be used to improve an organization’s AI.

Meta’s Surveillance Initiative

A recent lawsuit alleges that Meta used AI-assisted tools to score and rank employees for layoffs, and that the system disadvantaged people who took parental or medical leave. Meta said organizational decisions were made by people, not AI.

Separately, Meta workers learned about the Model Capability Initiative, which reportedly collected mouse clicks, keystrokes, and screen recordings to provide data for AI development. After more than 1,800 workers signed a petition opposing the initiative, Meta paused it. Workers interviewed said they feared the data could help train their replacements.

Data Privacy and Regulation

The video warns that some bossware companies may share or sell worker data to advertisers and data brokers, often without workers’ clear knowledge. It also points to Google’s purchase of Spirit Airlines’ corporate data after the airline’s bankruptcy. Google said it would use the data to train AI models.

California has passed laws limiting algorithmic hiring and firing, as well as some uses of emotion AI. Other proposals to protect worker data and prevent it from being used to train replacements have faced opposition. Similar legislation is being considered in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington.

Worker Power

Interviewees argue that unions and organizing are essential to ensuring workers have a say in how AI is used. They say surveillance can make organizing harder, while employers and tech companies have considerable influence over policy.

The video’s central argument is that the immediate issue is not only whether AI might someday become dangerous, but also how workplace monitoring already affects workers’ privacy, working conditions, and job security.

Presenters and Contributors

• Mae Ryan: Reporter and host
• Sherri Shaw: Nurse
• Samantha Gordon: Worker-data and labor advocate
• Clarissa Redwine: Tech labor organizer
• Peter and Kevin: Anonymous Meta workers
• Anonymous Amazon worker
• Insightful software representative
• AI assistants featured in demonstrations: Patty and an unnamed bossware-company agent