"AI Spying on Employees: Walmart, Delta, Starbucks Caught in the Act"

Several major companies, including Walmart, Delta, Starbucks, and others, have reportedly been using surveillance software developed by "Aware" to monitor employee conversations on messaging platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. The software, created by Aware, scans for keywords indicating employee discontent and potential safety issues. Aware's CEO, Jeff Schumann, claims that their AI tool helps companies understand employee sentiment in real-time, eliminating the need for annual surveys.
The software analyzes a vast amount of data, examining billions of individual communications from millions of workers. It identifies behaviors such as harassment and bullying, but does not flag specific employee names unless there is a serious threat. According to Schumann, 80% of Aware's business comes from companies like Walmart, T-Mobile, Chevron, and Starbucks, which use the technology for governance, risk, and compliance.
While some employees express discomfort with AI monitoring their conversations, others question its reliability. Companies like AstraZeneca and Delta use Aware's eDiscovery software, but claim they do not use analytics to track sentiment or toxicity. However, Delta does use eDiscovery and analytics tools from Aware to track sentiment and trends, as well as to maintain legal records on its social media platforms.
As more businesses adopt remote work strategies, concerns about AI surveillance in online communications are growing. Popular platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack, used by millions of users and thousands of organizations, are becoming prime targets for AI monitoring.