Meta has confirmed a new internal system that will track how employees work to train artificial intelligence models. The move has triggered strong reactions inside the company and raised questions about workplace privacy.
The system, part of what Meta calls its Meta employee tracking AI, will monitor actions such as keyboard input, mouse clicks, and activity inside internal tools. The data will be collected from company devices and used to improve AI systems.
Meta owns major platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. The company told staff that the tool will help build AI agents that can understand how people use computers in real situations.
A Meta spokesperson said the goal is to use real work patterns to improve AI tools. He explained that the system is designed to study how users complete tasks on computers so that AI models can learn from real examples.
He also said the data will not be used for any other purpose. According to Meta, safeguards have been added to protect sensitive information. However, concerns inside the company remain high.
Some employees have expressed discomfort with the new system. One worker described the tool as “very dystopian,” saying it feels invasive to have every small action recorded while job cuts are expected.
Another former employee said the system reflects Meta’s growing focus on AI. They said the company is heavily pushing AI tools across all departments.
The Meta employee tracking AI system comes at a time when the company is also reducing its workforce. Around 2,000 employees have already been laid off this year through smaller rounds of job cuts.
Reports also suggest more reductions may come in the near future. Internal uncertainty has increased among staff as hiring slows and job listings drop sharply.
Meta’s job posting website showed around 800 open positions in March. That number has now dropped to just seven active listings. The company has not explained the change.
A Meta spokesperson did not comment on job cuts or hiring changes. However, the company has already introduced a partial hiring freeze that appears to be expanding.
The new tracking system is known internally as the Model Capability Initiative, or MCI. It was first reported by Reuters and later confirmed by industry sources.
While employee activity on company devices was already accessible to Meta, the difference now is intent. The system is specifically designed to collect data for AI training and improvement.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has placed a strong focus on artificial intelligence development. He has said that AI will reshape how work is done across industries.
Meta is planning major spending on AI infrastructure and research. The company expects to invest around $140 billion in AI by 2026. This is nearly double its previous investment levels.
Meta has also expanded its AI operations through acquisitions. In 2025, it invested $14 billion in Scale AI, a data-labeling company that supports machine learning systems. Some of its executives joined Meta to help develop new AI tools.
The company has also launched new internal research projects. One of them, called Muse Spark, was introduced as part of Meta’s Superintelligence Labs initiative.
Meta says the data from the new tracking system will help train future AI models. These models are expected to improve automation and productivity tools used inside the company.
Zuckerberg has predicted that AI will significantly change workplace structure. He has said that tasks that once required large teams may soon be handled by one skilled worker using AI support.
However, the Meta employee tracking AI system raises broader concerns about employee privacy and workplace monitoring. Critics argue that tracking detailed actions could create pressure on workers.
Supporters of AI development say such systems are needed to build advanced tools. They argue that real-world data is essential for training accurate models.
For now, Meta has not announced when the tracking system will be fully rolled out. The company says it will continue refining safeguards as the tool develops.
As Meta pushes deeper into AI, the balance between innovation and employee privacy is becoming a growing topic of debate inside the tech industry.
