Artificial intelligence is reshaping how employers monitor their staff, moving beyond traditional output targets and computer software known as «bossware» to systems capable of processing huge volumes of data and generating detailed, minute-by-minute accounts of activity and productivity. The shift is being examined by UK technology editor Robert Booth, who explains which sectors are adopting the approach, why they are doing it, and how it could ultimately prove counterproductive.
Workers have long been subject to oversight, first through output targets and later through software installed on work devices. But AI is transforming the capabilities of these systems, allowing employers to analyse far larger and more varied datasets than before. The result is a far more granular picture of how employees spend their time, from keystrokes and screen activity to communication patterns and task completion rates.
According to Booth, the adoption of AI-driven monitoring is spreading across multiple sectors. While the full list is not detailed in the source, the trend is not confined to one industry. Employers are turning to these tools for reasons that include productivity measurement, performance management, and the desire to identify inefficiencies. The technology promises objective data, but its application raises questions about how that data is interpreted and used in practice.
One striking example comes from teachers at a firm associated with Euan Blair, who reported «horrendous stress» after AI was used to rate their work. The case illustrates how algorithmic assessment can affect employees psychologically, turning routine tasks into sources of anxiety. It also highlights a central tension: systems designed to improve performance may instead damage morale and wellbeing.
Booth suggests that AI surveillance could end up being counterproductive. When workers feel constantly watched and judged by opaque algorithms, the result can be reduced trust, increased stress, and a focus on gaming the metrics rather than doing the job well. The very tools meant to boost productivity may undermine the conditions that make good work possible.
The rise of AI monitoring also raises broader questions about privacy, consent, and the balance of power in the workplace. Employees may not know what data is being collected, how it is analysed, or what decisions it informs. As these systems become more common, the debate over their limits is likely to intensify, with calls for transparency and safeguards growing alongside the technology itself.