Elon Musk is tracking every click of xAI employees and they are not happy

xAI

Elon Musk has asked employees at his AI startup xAI to install productivity-tracking software on their personal computers, a move that has surprised many within the company. According to a report by Business Insider, xAI employees were told to download a program called Hubstaff, which monitors work activity, including websites visited, apps used, and even captures screenshots during work hours.

What’s unusual is that the software wasn’t just meant for company laptops, Musk made it mandatory even for employees using personal devices. Staff were initially given a July 11 deadline to install Hubstaff. However, after Business Insider contacted the company, xAI reportedly relaxed the rule, telling employees they could wait until they received an official company laptop.

In an email sent by xAI’s human resources team, the company said the software would “streamline work processes, provide clearer insights into daily tutoring activities, and ensure resources align with Human Data priorities.” Essentially, the idea is to track what employees are doing when they are working on training xAI’s chatbot, Grok.

The company said the tracking would only happen during work hours and would not monitor employees in their personal time. However, employees aren’t happy. Some told Business Insider they see it as “surveillance disguised as productivity” and feel it undermines the company culture.

Hubstaff tracks keystrokes, mouse movements, websites visited, and also requires workers to clock in and clock out each day. Despite the privacy concerns, legal experts say such software is generally allowed as long as employees are notified. According to employment lawyer David Lowe, companies can argue it’s necessary to protect trade secrets, though he questioned if there might be less intrusive ways to achieve the same goal.

Musk has been heavily focused on Grok in recent months, especially after it drew attention for controversial responses. xAI has since promised improvements, but it seems tensions inside the company are rising over how it handles employees too.