Meta is tightening its grip on its 78,000 staff by installing software that records keystrokes, mouse movements and screen content. The move, intended to feed the company’s AI models, follows a company‑wide memo that warned employees the data would help the firm understand “how people actually complete everyday tasks using computers.”

Zuckerberg has poured billions into AI labs and data centers, positioning Meta as an AI‑first company. The shift began after OpenAI’s 2022 ChatGPT release and accelerated when Meta launched a superintelligence research lab last summer. Investors view the 10% workforce cut as a cost‑reduction measure to balance massive AI spending.

Employees slammed the tracking program as a privacy breach, blasting it online with over 100 angry emojis and demanding an opt‑out option. CTO Andrew Bosworth defended the policy, asserting the data would never be used for surveillance. The backlash has left many workers questioning their long‑term future at a company that is cutting jobs to fund its AI ambitions.

Last month, Meta announced it would lay off about 8,000 people, a move tied to the 10% workforce reduction plan. The cuts are scheduled for May 20, following an internal message that the company would "offset the other investments we’re making." CFO Susan Li said the company’s size will likely shift as AI capabilities advance.