Microsoft Wants To Monitor Your Workplace With AI, Computer Vision and the Cloud (gizmodo.com)

"If you're an employee under the heel of a giant corporation you should probably be terrified by the vision of the future of connected gadgets that Microsoft just revealed at its Build developer conference here in Seattle," warns Gizmodo. Slashdot reader dryriver writes: Gizmodo reports on a Microsoft Workplace Monitoring demo where CCTV cameras watch a workplace -- like a construction site -- on 24/7 basis, and AI algorithms constantly oversee and evaluate what is happening in that workplace. The system can track where employees are, where physical equipment and tools are at what time, who does what at what time in this workplace and apparently use Cloud-based AI of some sort to evaluate what is happening in the workplace being monitored. Spotting employees misbehaving, breaking workplace rules or putting themselves and expensive equipment at risk may be the intended "value proposition" this system brings to the workplace. Another aspect may be reducing insurance premiums employers pay by creating a strict, highly monitored work environment. But the system is also very Big Brother -- an AI is monitoring people and equipment in a workplace in realtime at all times, and all the data ends up being processed in the Microsoft Cloud.
Gizmodo gave their article the title, "Microsoft's Latest Workplace Tech Demos Creep Me Out."

Comments

Freedom

[fluffernutter]

Technology was supposed to make our lives easier and free us. How come with every advance, it feels more like oppression?

Re:Microsoft Executives - Eat Your Own Dog Food

[Waffle Iron]

Wonder if Microsoft has implemented this software on their own premises?

Yes, they've been testing this system for a long time. One success story is that they were able to train the software to recognize chair throwing, and it enabled them to eventually identify and eliminate all executives who practiced that behavior.

Re:Microsoft Executives - Eat Your Own Dog Food

[spire3661]

Convicted abusive monopolist, just like ATT and Standard Oil. Microsoft earned all of the hate it gets. Also, it outright tried to kill Linux by funding SCO. Dont fucking defend M$ here.