Meta is set to begin tracking employees’ mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes on work devices as part of a major push to improve its artificial intelligence systems, according to internal memos seen by Reuters.
The new tool, known as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), will monitor activity across work-related apps and websites and periodically capture screenshots of employees’ screens. The data will be used to train AI models to better mimic how humans interact with computers.
According to one memo shared internally, the goal is to strengthen AI performance in tasks such as navigating dropdown menus and using keyboard shortcuts.
“This is where all Meta employees can help our models get better simply by doing their daily work,” the memo stated.
The move forms part of Meta’s broader strategy to integrate AI deeply into its operations and develop autonomous agents capable of carrying out workplace tasks.
In a separate memo, Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth said the company was accelerating internal data collection under its “AI for Work” initiative, now renamed the Agent Transformation Accelerator (ATA).
“The vision we are building towards is one where our agents primarily do the work and our role is to direct, review and help them improve,” Bosworth said.
“The aim, he added, was for agents to “automatically see where we felt the need to intervene so they can be better next time.”
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said data gathered through MCI would be used solely for training AI models and not for employee performance evaluations.
“If we’re building agents to help people complete everyday tasks using computers, our models need real examples of how people actually use them — things like mouse movements, clicking buttons, and navigating dropdown menus,” Stone said.
The initiative comes as Meta restructures its workforce around AI. The company plans to cut about 10% of its global workforce starting May 20, with further reductions expected later this year.
Other major tech firms have taken similar steps. Amazon has reduced its corporate workforce by about 30,000 roles in recent months, while fintech firm Block has cut nearly half of its staff.
Internally, Meta has encouraged employees to rely more on AI tools for coding and other tasks, and has introduced a new general-purpose role titled “AI builder”. It also recently formed an Applied AI engineering team to enhance the coding capabilities of its systems.
However, the plan has raised concerns over workplace surveillance. Ifeoma Ajunwa noted that while monitoring tools have long been used to detect misconduct, keystroke logging represents a deeper level of oversight.
“On the US side, federally, there is no limit on worker surveillance,” she said.
Valerio De Stefano added that such practices would likely face legal barriers in Europe, where stricter data protection rules apply.
“More broadly, he said, awareness of employer surveillance shifts the balance of workplace power in the employer’s favor.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
