Musk shocks xAI team with mandatory surveillance app, asks employees to download tracking app on all devices
Which Monitoring Software Did Elon Musk Ask xAI Workers to Install?
According to an internal email obtained by Business Insider, staff working on xAI's AI chatbot, Grok, were instructed to download Hubstaff, a monitoring app that tracks URLs, application usage, and takes periodic screenshots during work hours, as reported by Daily Beast.
The email also mentioned a July 11 deadline to install the software, but later the company has since told employees that they could wait until they received an xAI-issued laptop after the company was contacted for comment, as reported by Business Insider.
ALSO READ:
Wall of lies? V.A. reported fake cuts to DOGE while real pain hit veterans hard
Monitoring Tool Sparks Internal Backlash
The directive caused immediate backlash inside the company, and one xAI employee called the software 'surveillance disguised as productivity' and 'manipulation masked as culture,' according to Business Insider.
Live Events
How Did xAI Justify the Use of Hubstaff?
xAI's HR department defended the policy, writing in the email that Hubstaff would help 'streamline work processes, provide clearer insights into daily tutoring activities, and ensure resources align with Human Data priorities,' as quoted in the report.
What Exactly Does Hubstaff Track?
While the company insists that the software won't track activity outside of work hours, it does monitor keystrokes, mouse movements, and take screen captures during working time, as per the Business Insider report. It also requires employees to clock in and out daily, turning every second of logged-in time into a measurable data point, according to the report.
ALSO READ:
iPhone 17 launch date leaked? Here's when Apple might drop its hottest device yet
Is xAI's Move Legal?
Despite the backlash by workers, employment attorney David Lowe told Business Insider that the move may be legally sound, especially if xAI notified employees in advance and limits monitoring to work hours, as reported by Business Insider.
He pointed out that 'It's a balancing test,' and then explained that the tech billionaire's XAI could cite protecting 'trade secrets and ensuring employees are not violating privacy obligations' as a reason behind the software, as quoted in the report. Lowe also pointed out that, 'The next step is to determine if there is a less intrusive way to accomplish that objective,' as quoted by Business Insider.
Why Is Grok's Behavior Under the Microscope?
This comes after Musk's AI startup has faced growing scrutiny as Grok, the chatbot at the center of xAI's work, has sparked controversy with its responses, according to the report. Grok has become a priority for the world's richest man after the AI chatbot told users that the biggest threat facing Western civilization was 'misinformation,' as reported by Business Insider.
That led Musk to reveal that the firm is rolling out a new version of the chatbot after it went on an antisemitic tirade and praised Adolf Hitler, according to the report. xAI said it was 'taking action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X,' as quoted by Business Insider.
Elon Musk Personally Criticized Grok's Latest Replies
When Grok cited more of the same about misinformation and climate change being threats last week, Musk wasn't happy, and he said on social media platform X, 'Sorry for this idiotic response,' and added, 'Will fix in the morning,' as quoted in the report.
Sorry for this idiotic response. Will fix in the morning.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
July 10, 2025
FAQs
Why are xAI employees upset about the tracking software?
They feel it's an invasion of privacy, especially since it was initially required even on personal devices.
Is it legal for a company to monitor employees this way?
Yes, if employees are informed and it only happens during work hours, as per the Business Insider report.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
15 minutes ago
- India Today
Khamenei warns of 'even bigger blow' to US and Israel if attacked again
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has once again warned the United States and Israel amid rising pressure on Tehran over its nuclear activities. Speaking on state television Wednesday, Khamenei said, "The fact that our nation is ready to face the power of the United States and its dog on a leash, the Zionist regime, is very praiseworthy."Khamenei referred to Iran's strike on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, saying it was "just the beginning" and warned that "an even bigger blow could be inflicted on the US and others." His comments came the West continue to push for fresh nuclear negotiations while also considering the possibility of reimposing sanctions on MISSILE STRENGTH STILL A CONCERNDespite recent Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities -- including a destructive hit on the Fordow nuclear site in June -- US intelligence has assessed that while Iran's nuclear ambitions may be delayed by up to two years, its missile and drone capabilities remain mostly intact. According to Bill Roggio, a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies (FDD) and editor of the Long War Journal, Iran still possesses around 1,500 medium-range ballistic missiles and roughly 50 percent of its launch SAYS HE'S 'IN NO RUSH TO TALK'Amid ongoing tensions, US President Donald Trump has adopted a cautious tone on the issue. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said he remains open to negotiations but added, "I'm in no rush to talk."NUCLEAR TALKS UNCERTAIN AS SANCTIONS THREATENMeanwhile, Western nations have made it clear that if Iran fails to make progress on talks with the US by the end of the summer, they may activate the "snapback" sanctions — a provision under the 2015 nuclear deal allowing the re-imposition of international sanctions if Iran fails to Foreign Ministry told Fox News Digital, "A sustainable and verifiable diplomatic solution that addresses the security interests of the international community is essential. If such a solution is not achieved by the end of the summer, the snapback mechanism will remain an option for the E3."The E3 refers to France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — the three European countries involved in the 2015 nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "We continue to coordinate closely with our E3 partners on this issue," the German ministry added.- EndsWith inputs from ReutersMust Watch
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
India, China, Brazil can be hit by sanctions over Russia trade: NATO chief
At a time when Delhi and Washington are working on a trade deal before the pause on reciprocal tariff ends August 1, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that countries like India, China and Brazil could be hit very hard by secondary sanctions if they continued to do business with Russia. Speaking in Washington, Rutte, according to the Reuters news agency, said countries in business with Russia should make a phone call to President Vladimir Putin and 'tell him that he has to get serious about peace talks (on ending the Ukraine conflict), because otherwise this will slam back on Brazil, on India and on China in a massive way'. 'My encouragement to these three countries, particularly, is if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you might want to take a look into this, because this might hit you very hard,' Rutte told reporters. The NATO chief's remarks come amid tariff uncertainties and global trade wars with the US, and India's own trade with Russia, particularly oil imports. Weeks ago, there were concerns in India over a controversial Bill in the US that proposed 500 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to trade with Russia. More recently, US President Donald Trump also threatened 'biting' secondary tariffs at the rate of 100 per cent on buyers of Russian exports unless there is a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within 50 days. Industry watchers and experts see these as tactics to force Putin's hand by pressuring countries who import from Russia. India has so far not scaled back on its oil imports from Russia, and has maintained that it is willing to buy oil from whoever offers the best price, as long as the oil is not under sanctions. Russian oil itself is not sanctioned, but the US and its allies have imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel, as per which Western shippers and insurers cannot participate in Russian oil trade if the price of Moscow's crude is above that level. India and China are the top importers of Russian crude, and Delhi is engaging with US lawmakers and the Trump administration to voice concerns regarding India's energy security. India depends on imports to meet around 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia has been the mainstay of India's oil imports for nearly three years now. With much of the West shunning Russian crude following the country's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia began offering discounts on its oil to willing buyers. Indian refiners were quick to avail the opportunity, leading to Russia, earlier a peripheral supplier of oil to India, emerging as India's biggest source of crude, displacing the traditional West Asian suppliers. Indian refiners are adopting a wait-and-watch approach while keeping Russian oil flows robust. In fact, imports of Russian crude may rise further amid the tariff threats as Indian refiners would ideally want to stock up before any tariff action takes effect. While the discounts have varied over time, Russian oil flows to India have remained robust despite Western pressure and limited sanctions on Russia's oil trading ecosystem. Booming oil trade with Russia has also catapulted the country to the list of India's biggest trading partners. In data: India's Russian oil imports India's Russian oil imports rose to an 11-month high in June, further cementing Moscow's continued dominance in Delhi's oil import basket. According to tanker data, Russian crude accounted for a massive 43.2 per cent of India's total oil imports in June, outweighing the next three suppliers — West Asian majors Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — put together. In June, India imported 2.08 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude, the highest since July 2024, and higher by 12.2 per cent on a month-on-month basis, according to vessel tracking data from global commodity market analytics firm Kpler. According to India's official trade data, oil imports from Russia were at 87.4 million tonnes in the financial year 2024-25, accounting for almost 36 per cent of India's total oil imports of 244 million tonnes. Prior to the war in Ukraine, Russia's share in India's oil import basket was less than 2 per cent. In 2024-25, the value of India's oil imports from Russia was over $50 billion, or 35 per cent of India's total oil imports worth $143 billion. 'This resurgence in Russian volumes reflects both commercial incentives and geopolitical realignments. Russian barrels have remained highly competitive due to discounts, payment mechanisms, and logistical flexibility via alternative shipping and insurance networks. Despite mounting Western sanctions, Indian refiners have managed to maintain — and even expand — procurement from Russia. Barring any severe logistical or regulatory disruptions, this trend is likely to persist in the coming months,' said Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst, Refining & Modeling at Kpler. 'Looking ahead, Russia will likely remain India's largest crude supplier – with a share of 35-40 per cent (in India's oil imports) – supported by price competitiveness and techno-economics. However, this dominance could face pressure if the West escalates enforcement of secondary sanctions targeting financial or shipping facilitators. Such a scenario could either reduce Russian volumes or push Indian refiners to seek greater compliance safeguards,' Ritolia said. Oil imports from West Asia are also expected to stabilise in the 35-40 per cent range. Tariff threats: Will they, won't they? It is yet to be seen if the recent tariff threats made against countries like India and China for their energy imports from Russia will translate into tangible tariff action. The Trump administration has been rather mercurial when it comes to trade tariffs; making sweeping announcements, then pausing and negotiating. The hope in India's oil sector is that the US won't actually implement tariffs related to India's oil imports from Russia, as it is in the interest of the US and the global economy that the international oil market remains well-supplied. If Russia is unable to supply its crude, global oil prices are bound to rise due to lower supply being available. But if the US indeed goes ahead and imposes such tariffs, India would be pushed to cut down oil imports from Russia and increase imports from other suppliers, primarily its traditional West Asian suppliers like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which would push up the cost of imports by a few dollars a barrel. Additionally, it could also lead to complications in India's ongoing trade deal negotiations with the US, its largest trading partner. Sukalp Sharma is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and writes on a host of subjects and sectors, notably energy and aviation. He has over 13 years of experience in journalism with a body of work spanning areas like politics, development, equity markets, corporates, trade, and economic policy. He considers himself an above-average photographer, which goes well with his love for travel. ... Read More
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Zelensky Aims To Win Over Both Public And Trump With Cabinet Reshuffle
Kyiv: Ukraine will get its first new prime minister of the war on Thursday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky tries to wrestle wartime defence spending into shape and win over both Donald Trump and a war-weary public with fresh-faced leadership. Yulia Svyrydenko, 39, the only candidate for the post, is expected to take over a reshuffled cabinet, tasked with scaling up a fledgling arms industry and breathing life into an economy kept afloat by Western lenders. Zelensky's choice of a young economist well known in Washington reflects the importance of repairing relations with the Trump administration after Zelensky's disastrous White House visit in February. Svyrydenko's outgoing predecessor, Denys Shmyhal, is meanwhile likely to shift to the job of defence minister, a sign of the importance Kyiv now places in building up the capacity of its defence industry as the best chance of fending off Russia. But with Zelensky still relying on a small handful of close allies to make his biggest reshuffle of the war, the moves could disappoint Ukrainians who want to see a wider talent pool at the top. Svyrydenko, with a more prominent public profile than Shmyhal, has already played a role in shoring up ties with the United States and was one of Kyiv's main negotiators in reaching a deal that gives Washington preferential access to swathes of Ukraine's mineral wealth. Her nomination sends a signal to Washington that Kyiv is prioritising the relationship, said political analyst Mykola Davydiuk. "For us, it's a partnership that's not just about money but about values, about joint projects and generally about our common movement forward together," he said, summing up how he saw Zelensky's thinking. Importance Of Defence Shmyhal, 49, was Ukraine's longest-serving prime minister. Moving him to the defence ministry, a demotion on paper, gives Zelensky an experienced technocratic economist in a job that oversees the bulk of Ukraine's state cash flow. The 2025 budget allocates 2.23 trillion hryvnias $53.2 billion - about 26% of Ukraine's gross domestic product - for defence spending. The ministry has faced public criticism over poor organisation and procurement problems as Ukraine struggles to fend off a bigger and better-armed Russian military. "This is a ministry that practically since the beginning of the war has suffered from a lack of systemic management," said Hlib Vyshlinsky, head of the Centre for Economic Strategy in Kyiv. He described Shmyhal's appointment as "an extremely good step". Economically, Kyiv faces the tough challenge of finding money to finance its ballooning budget deficit as foreign aid is set to diminish but defence spending continues to grow. Officials have said Ukraine would need about $40 billion in international financing in 2026 and could face a shortfall of about $19 billion. Maintaining stability will only become more difficult as the war drags on, complicated by a lack of effective policymakers, said opposition lawmaker Andrii Osadchuk. "Unfortunately, it is increasingly difficult for Zelensky and his coalition to add new, bright people to ministerial positions," said Osadchuk, of the Holos party, adding it could lead to "stagnation" in the executive branch. Political Challenges Earlier this month, Shmyhal's cabinet came under fire from businesses and civil society for rejecting the candidacy of an economic security chief who had been unanimously backed by an internationally supervised committee. Other opposition lawmakers have criticised what they describe as Zelensky's reliance on an ever-smaller band of close loyalists. "Zelensky's short bench of personnel has long since turned into a stool on which maybe five or six managers fit," wrote lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko, a member of Zelensky rival Petro Poroshenko's party, on Wednesday. "The only innovation (in Svyrydenko's appointment) is that a female manager has been added." Elections are prohibited while the country is under martial law, a principle widely accepted within Ukraine given the difficulty of staging a vote while millions of people are displaced and cities are under bombardment and occupation. But this also means it is difficult for a new crop of leaders to emerge. While Zelensky himself remains broadly popular, the cabinet and other current or former senior officials have been ensnared in allegations of corruption and incompetence. Last month, authorities charged a deputy prime minister with taking a $345,000 kickback. Ukraine's government and parliament suffer from low levels of public trust, said Anton Grushetskyi, executive director of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology. However, he added that most Ukrainians, while wanting a widespread political renewal, are against wartime elections and accept that fending off Russia is the greater priority.
