While many employees fear that artificial intelligence could replace jobs, another technology called “bossware” is changing how workers are monitored. Bossware refers to software that allows managers to track employees’ activities, performance, and even behavior during work hours.
The term became widely known after a 2020 report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted its use. This software uses AI tools that may significantly change the workplace and reduce employee independence.
Karen Levy, a professor at Cornell University and author of Data Driven: Truckers, Technology, and the New Workplace Surveillance, says AI allows employers to monitor workers in ways that were not possible before. She explains that in the trucking industry, AI-powered cameras can detect if a driver looks tired and send alerts. In office settings, companies can track productivity, work habits, and even keystrokes using algorithms and biometric tools.
The use of bossware increased during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people began working from home. Employers started using tools that could take screenshots and monitor keyboard activity to track remote workers.
By 2022, eight out of the ten largest private employers in the United States were using such monitoring systems. However, Rob Reich, a professor at Stanford University, points out that although these tools are meant to improve productivity, simple metrics like typing speed do not always reflect the actual quality or value of someone’s work.
Experts also warn that constant AI surveillance may take away necessary breaks for employees and increase the power imbalance between workers and management. Continuous monitoring could create pressure and reduce trust in the workplace.
Levy suggests that employees should be included in discussions about how such technology is used and should be given more control. She believes this approach could help companies keep their staff satisfied while also improving productivity. Reich also advises that even if AI monitoring is introduced with good intentions, it must be handled carefully to prevent creating a workplace culture focused too heavily on surveillance.
