Meta has informed employees it will begin tracking keystrokes, mouse movements, and general computer activity to train its artificial intelligence models, according to reporting from the BBC. The new system, known internally as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), will log how employees interact with internal tools and workflows, turning everyday work behavior into training data for AI development.
The company says the data collection is necessary to build systems that reflect how people actually use computers in real-world environments. A Meta spokesperson told the BBC the tool includes safeguards to protect sensitive information and that the data will not be used beyond improving AI systems. Still, the move arrives as Meta intensifies its investment in artificial intelligence, with plans to spend roughly $140 billion on AI in 2026, nearly double its previous spending.
Employees, however, have raised concerns about the scope and implications of the tracking. Some described the system as “very dystopian,” particularly as it coincides with layoffs and a broader restructuring of the company’s workforce. Meta has already cut around 2,000 jobs this year, while job listings have dropped sharply, signaling a deeper shift toward AI-driven operations. The result is a workplace where human labor is increasingly being captured, measured, and repurposed as input for the very systems that may ultimately replace it.