Companies are increasingly adopting AI-driven tools to monitor employee productivity, activity, and communication.

The Indian IT sector has been hit by a wave of what experts are calling ‘silent layoffs’! These firings may lead to as many as 50,000 people losing their jobs in the IT sector by year-end.

Whilst precise dismissal figures remain unclear, projections indicate about 25,000 job losses between 2023 and 2024, with expectations of this figure doubling in the current year, according to an ET report.

Industry experts indicate that current market conditions warrant caution, as companies' business growth and increased AI technology implementation, which handles routine engineering tasks, are compelling software firms to reduce their surplus workforce.

Companies across the U.S. and Europe have been cutting staff, citing the impact of artificial intelligence.

There may be more to the layoffs than meets the eye as firms are "scapegoating" the technology to take the fall for challenging business moves such as layoffs, according to one professor.

Some companies that flourished during the pandemic "significantly overhired" and the recent layoffs might just be a "market clearance," the professor said.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, the IT sector has traditionally been the most straightforward and sought-after path to upward economic mobility and prosperity for India’s legions of engineering graduates, and any dip in the employment prospects of this sector is likely to have significant ripple effects on India’s economy and politics. Coupled with several other more bombastic statements by global giants like Meta and Salesforce on the reduced need for entry-level engineers and a turbulent business outlook for India’s IT sector, an anxiety-inducing cocktail is born. In this context, there are three key takeaways from TCS layoffs to keep in mind.

The Rise of AI-Powered Surveillance

Companies are increasingly adopting AI-driven tools to monitor employee productivity, activity, and communication. These tools range from keystroke loggers and screen monitoring software to sentiment analysis of emails and even AI-powered cameras analyzing facial expressions during meetings. While proponents argue that this data improves efficiency and identifies areas for improvement, critics express deep concerns about the ethical implications and the potential for misuse.

Keystroke Monitoring: Tracks every keystroke, providing a detailed record of employee work habits.

Screen Monitoring: Captures screenshots at regular intervals, allowing managers to see what employees are working on.

Email and Chat Monitoring: Analyzes the content of employee communications for sentiment and keywords.

Facial Recognition: Uses cameras to track employee presence and analyze emotional responses.

 By - Aaradhay Sharma