BackTECH
Meta to track workers' clicks and keystrokes to train AI
Meta will start logging employees' activity, including keystrokes and mouse clicks, on company computers and internal apps to train its AI models. The move comes amid broader AI investments, a hiring slowdown, and the launch of Muse Spark from Meta's AI labs, with the company claiming the data will be used only for training and safeguarded. Reuters reported the tool's name, Model Capability Initiative (MCI), as part of the announcement.
Why It Matters
The step indicates deeper integration of AI into workplace processes and may affect employees' privacy and job security, while aligning with Meta's aggressive AI expansion.
Timeline
8 Events
Meta says data will be used only for AI training with safeguards
April 21, 2026
Meta stated the data collected by MCI would be used only for training AI models and that safeguards are in place to protect sensitive content.
Reuters reports MCI and confirms its name
April 21, 2026
Reuters first reported the move and that the tool is named Model Capability Initiative (MCI).
Announcement of Model Capability Initiative (MCI)
April 21, 2026
Meta introduced an employee-tracking tool to log keystrokes and mouse clicks on company computers and internal apps to train its AI models. The tool is called Model Capability Initiative (MCI).
Muse Spark launches from Meta Superintelligence Labs
March 2026
The first significant launch from Meta Superintelligence Labs emerged in March 2026 with the AI model Muse Spark.
Meta's job listings shrink from 800 to seven
March 2026
Meta's job listings page showed about 800 listings in March 2026, but the number had fallen to seven listings afterward.
Partial hiring freeze begins amid broader AI push
March 2026
The company enacted a partial hiring freeze in March 2026, a move described as potentially far-reaching amid broader cost-cutting actions.
Zuckerberg: 2026 will be the year AI dramatically changes work
January 2026
In January 2026, Mark Zuckerberg said that 2026 would be 'the year that AI dramatically changes the way we work.'
Meta invests in Scale AI and expands AI capabilities
2025
In 2025, Meta took over nearly half of Scale AI with a $14bn investment, and brought some executives of the data-labeling firm into Meta to help build out its AI models and tools.