AI companies have scraped the web. Their next target is data that shows how humans actually work.

AI companies have scraped the web. Their next target is data that shows how humans actually work.

AI firms are shifting focus from general web data to proprietary workplace information, including internal communications and physical task recordings. This strategic pivot aims to teach artificial intelligence systems the nuanced workflows and decision-making processes that define human collaboration and problem-solving. By securing access to anonymized company records and specialized industry knowledge, organizations and tech companies seek to build superior AI agents capable of executing complex, multi-step tasks. This move transforms raw data into a critical asset for enhancing machine understanding of real-world operations. This trend is vital to open data discourse as it highlights a growing tension between data openness and the privatization of valuable behavioral datasets. The concentration of such intimate work data in the hands of few AI developers raises significant concerns regarding transparency, privacy, and equitable access to the foundational information powering modern intelligence.

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