Meta is recording detailed computer activity from its 78,000 employees—including keystrokes, mouse movements, clicks, and screen content—to train AI models, according to a May 8, 2026 New York Times report. The company will lay off approximately 8,000 workers on May 20, 2026, roughly 10% of its workforce, to offset AI infrastructure investments.
Employee Tracking Feeds AI Training Data
Meta's monitoring system captures comprehensive workplace activity to generate training data for AI systems. The tracking includes what employees typed, how they moved their mouse, where they clicked, and what appeared on their screens. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has mandated aggressive AI tool adoption across the company, with AI usage now factored into employee performance reviews.
Employees responded to the tracking disclosure with over 100 angry and surprised emoji reactions on internal platforms. Many workers expressed concern they were training their own replacements, with one employee stating: "It's not about utility...It's about visibility, the fear of looking behind."
Layoffs and Employee Anxiety Intensify
The 8,000-person reduction represents Meta's strategy to fund AI investments through workforce cuts. Employees have created at least three countdown websites tracking days until the May 20 layoff date, while sharing layoff preparation guides and nihilistic memes internally.
The juxtaposition of harvesting employee work patterns for AI training while simultaneously eliminating those same positions has amplified anxiety across Meta's workforce. This follows broader tech industry trends, with Meta and Microsoft announcing 20,000 combined job cuts in April 2026, raising concerns about an AI-driven labor crisis.
Key Takeaways
- Meta is tracking employee keystrokes, mouse movements, and screen activity to train AI models
- The company will lay off approximately 8,000 employees (10% of its 78,000 workforce) on May 20, 2026
- AI tool usage is now factored into employee performance reviews at Meta
- Employees expressed concern about training AI systems that may replace their jobs
- Meta and Microsoft announced 20,000 combined job cuts in April 2026 linked to AI investments