How Walmart, Delta, Chevron and Starbucks are using AI to monitor employee messages (www.cnbc.com)
from return2ozma@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world on 09 Feb 2024 22:21
https://lemmy.world/post/11768586

#technology

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linearchaos@lemmy.world on 09 Feb 2024 23:07 next collapse

Yuck. I had always envisioned Gattaca to be how we slipped into 1984. I did have screenshotting workstations and having ai make constant reports on users on my bingo cards.

VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world on 09 Feb 2024 23:18 next collapse

If I understand right, it is tracking work software. So work PCs. I had already assumed anything in a work setting can be used against me. It doesn’t make it right, but this won’t change my behavior. I already assume corpo-degeneracy is afoot anytime I touch work-tech.

chaogomu@kbin.social on 09 Feb 2024 23:46 next collapse

I was military before my first civilian job.

We had that lesson beat into our heads repeatedly, and yet there were still people who never quite picked up on it.

We had the consent to monitoring pop-up every single time we logged onto a government computer, and then had that consent to monitoring explicitly spelled out every three months as we had to complete a computer based training program.

For some people, it still didn't take.

All that said, this particular thought crime detection effort is creepy as fuck.

postnataldrip@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 00:40 next collapse

You’re spot on, however the pervasiveness of this kind of data collection and analysis seems to have really picked up in recent years.

In my workplace a similar tool was put in place to keep an eye out for potential fraud, sensitive data being shared, that kind of thing, but at least one exec very quickly started asking questions about “enhancing” it, laughingly suggesting it could help identify flight risks in areas they’re looking to cut headcount in, so they could “remove barriers to their exit” rather than having to pay severance. (To quote the great philosopher Nelly, “I’m just kidding like Jason… unless you’re gonna do it”)

Don’t forget too that this is just monitoring chats, there are plenty of other sources of data that could be used against you if so desired.

IMHO the issue isn’t so much that people are using work-controlled platforms to say things that workplace doesn’t like (though that is an issue), it’s more the shift in the employer mindset that tools like this enable, and the huge imbalance it can create when it comes to salary negotiations, constructive dismissal, mass layoffs, union busting, etc.

VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 01:18 next collapse

A lot of great points. I suspect metrics on people’s work will only get worse. Like you said, it will justify some awful behavior. Imagine a dummy having access to it as well. Like Musk firing people based off how many lines of code.

GBU_28@lemm.ee on 10 Feb 2024 01:40 collapse

Not sure why it’s an issue. The employer owns the software/service/platform. You agree to abide by their rules while in a relationship with them.

tutus@links.hackliberty.org on 10 Feb 2024 12:56 collapse

You’ve clearly missed the point.

GBU_28@lemm.ee on 10 Feb 2024 16:32 collapse

No I think folks here just assume their entitled to something. It’s the employer’s house, they run the show.

tutus@links.hackliberty.org on 10 Feb 2024 18:14 collapse

They are. Employers house or not. That’s the point you’re missing.

GBU_28@lemm.ee on 10 Feb 2024 19:11 collapse

Can you explain how something someone else is paying for, supporting,maintaining, and inviting you to use, is not theirs to command?

You can’t just walk into any random person’s house and start eating their food. If you are a guest somewhere, you are obligated to use their house the way they command. They can literally tell you “wear a gimp suit while you visit”. You don’t get to complain, you can leave if you don’t like it

tutus@links.hackliberty.org on 10 Feb 2024 20:37 collapse

I could. But we both know I’d be wasting my time.

This stuff isn’t difficult to understand. But you’re going out of your way to make such a show of not understanding that you’re obviously trolling. Or an idiot.

GBU_28@lemm.ee on 10 Feb 2024 20:42 collapse

I am not trolling, I legitimately believe a company’s property is theirs to with as they please, and all data transmitted on their systems is theirs to collect and.manipulate as they see fit. Even if that is to the detriment of the worker.

If you come to my home, my network would have the same stipulations, as would yours.

GuerillaGorillas@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 03:11 next collapse

At least in the case of Walmart it’s more that the “work PCs” are many people’s personal phones. They’ve pushed employees to install work software with very invasive privacy permissions in lieu of providing dedicated handheld devices, you may notice this if you’re buying something age-restricted at self checkout and the clerk scans a QR code instead of entering an id on the terminal.

VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 03:36 next collapse

What the heck. How are they at that point not paying for the phone. Nope nope nope.

A lot of people seem to feel entitled to space on others phones. I guess businesses included.

13617@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 03:49 collapse

No they provide phones for the employees, at least in my area.I think it’s up to choice, and the fact that the employees don’t know.

VelvetStorm@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 05:09 next collapse

My work is offering free shoes to employees that walk a lot on job sites. I won’t be wearing them until I’ve gone over them as I would not put it past my company to put trackers in them so they can track us on our patrols more.

ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 09:13 collapse

A few seconds in the breakroom microwave ought to take care of any problems in that regard, if there’s no other obvious metal in them like grommets for laces. Bzzzzt ding! and problem solved, lol.

scottrepreneur@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 11:15 next collapse

Might need a new microwave

VelvetStorm@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 12:06 next collapse

Brave of you to assume they give us a break room or a microwave.

funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works on 10 Feb 2024 13:18 collapse

Honestly, who microwaves a shoe?

BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 16:43 collapse

There’s a difference to me between recording and monitoring. I expect nearly everything I do is recorded and I don’t mind that so much. An AI system that’s scrutinizing every keystroke and click for some violation or inefficiency is just offensive as an adult and as a professional. Profit comes before people, every time.

VerseAndVermin@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 18:23 collapse

The software has determined every key stroke with your thumb has a measurable deficiency. Employee #5317, would you verbally agree to a thumb lengthening. We believe this would improve performance by 0.012%.

Tolstoshev@lemmy.world on 10 Feb 2024 00:30 collapse

Always establish outside communication channels with coworkers.