Y Combinator deletes posts after a startup's demo goes viral
Optifye.ai's demo video, showcasing AI surveillance of factory workers, faced backlash, prompting Y Combinator to delete it. The incident highlights concerns over workplace monitoring and ongoing investment in such technologies.
Read original article
A demo video from Optifye.ai, a startup in Y Combinator's current cohort, went viral and sparked significant backlash on social media, leading Y Combinator to delete the posts featuring the video. The demo showcased Optifye's AI-powered software designed to monitor factory workers' performance in real-time using security cameras. In the video, co-founder Kushal Mohta portrayed a factory boss confronting a low-performing worker, which drew criticism for its portrayal of workplace surveillance. Critics labeled the software as promoting "sweatshops-as-a-service," while some defended it, arguing that similar technologies are already in use in factories worldwide. The incident highlights growing concerns about the use of AI in workplace monitoring, with a Pew poll indicating that most Americans oppose such practices. Despite the backlash, investment in worker-monitoring technologies continues, as evidenced by other companies in the space securing funding. Y Combinator and Optifye.ai did not respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
- Optifye.ai's demo video faced backlash for promoting workplace surveillance.
- Y Combinator deleted the video from its social media platforms after criticism.
- The incident reflects broader concerns about AI's role in monitoring workers.
- Despite public opposition, investment in surveillance technologies remains strong.
- The controversy underscores the tension between technological advancement and ethical considerations in the workplace.
Related
Corporate surveillance technology is out of control
Corporate surveillance technologies are increasingly invasive, monitoring employees' activities and creating AI-generated "risk scores." Public opposition is rising, prompting proposed legislation to regulate these practices and enhance privacy.
The models who found their likenesses had been used in AI propaganda
Models discovered their images were used in AI-generated propaganda videos without consent, prompting backlash against Synthesia. This incident raised ethical concerns and led to proposed legislation for protection against unauthorized likeness use.
Tell HN: Y Combinator backing AI company to abuse factory workers
Optifye.ai faces criticism for using AI in factories, allegedly dehumanizing workers while benefiting wealthy owners. Concerns arise about ethical implications and the tech industry's focus on profit over human dignity.
Y Combinator Supports AI Startup Dehumanizing Factory Workers
Optifye.ai, an AI startup from Y Combinator, is creating a factory worker monitoring system, raising concerns about dehumanization and micromanagement, leading to Y Combinator removing promotional content amid criticism.
'Hey Number 17 '
Optifye.ai, an AI startup backed by Y Combinator, proposes a controversial surveillance system for factory workers, raising ethical concerns about dehumanization and harsh treatment amid criticism and backlash.
40 comments'Hey Number 17 ' - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43175023 - Feb 2025 (122 comments)
Tell HN: Y Combinator backing AI company to abuse factory workers - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43170850 - Feb 2025 (160 comments)
Not saying I support this product, the demo is some horrific soulless behavior, but I’m not surprised either.
The fact it didn't cross their minds that maybe this is a bad idea to release in the US really shows the cultural difference between the West and other countries like India. There are plenty of things wrong with the US but blatant treating of lesser-privileged people like animals is something that isn't well tolerated here.
(In reference to https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon )
What do you mean you’ve been working all day? I've got over 500 million power in “Rise of Kingdoms” and
Because if it is a fully fledged product, I'm not sure what that says about the many people at YC and elsewhere that gave it a pass. Seriously wtf material.
Remember they are not even paid minimum wage by the hour. They are paid by how many punnets they pick. And this founder thought it was a great idea.
American Ag is more exploitative than any third world/developing country because the really desperate work here. It is sorely in need of automation.
Nobody wants to actually invest in Ag automation..not really…there is a lot of BS floating but everything grown locally and on our shelves relies on low paid manual labour.
I wish.. so very much..that Americans see how their food is grown.
This isn't just run of the mill capitalism bad, this is truly exceptionally vile and staining.
Challenge: Impossible
Life imitates art, https://theyesmen.org/project/finland
In reality this sounds to me like a play to eliminate the manager jobs, not to materially change working conditions for the rank and file, who are monitored for output one way or another, even in Western countries. Nobody employs workers unconditionally and for life.
”Optifye says it’s building software to help factory owners know who’s working — and who isn’t — in “real-time” thanks to AI-powered security cameras it places on assembly lines, according to its YC profile.”
What are Universities doing to curb this?
I wouldn't bring this particular product to market. But I think people have weird ideas about the level of intentionality that exists inside of YC with respect to its portfolio companies.
Relative to an ordinary VC fund, YC admits absurd numbers of companies every year (always has!). It deliberately admits companies that are nothing but pairs of impressive founders and an idea. Those teams get some office hours advice from some subset of YC partners, but are left alone to build their companies --- YC takes a small amount of equity, nothing resembling control. By the time Demo Day or "Launch HN" happens, many of those companies are working on totally different things from their applications.
I don't really understand why anyone would expect YC to keep a durable record of a Launch post that was working against the startup that put it together. They're not a journalism outlet, and it looks like journalism did just fine keeping a record of what happened here.
seems like bad business since the endgame was full automation robot factory
Related
Corporate surveillance technology is out of control
Corporate surveillance technologies are increasingly invasive, monitoring employees' activities and creating AI-generated "risk scores." Public opposition is rising, prompting proposed legislation to regulate these practices and enhance privacy.
The models who found their likenesses had been used in AI propaganda
Models discovered their images were used in AI-generated propaganda videos without consent, prompting backlash against Synthesia. This incident raised ethical concerns and led to proposed legislation for protection against unauthorized likeness use.
Tell HN: Y Combinator backing AI company to abuse factory workers
Optifye.ai faces criticism for using AI in factories, allegedly dehumanizing workers while benefiting wealthy owners. Concerns arise about ethical implications and the tech industry's focus on profit over human dignity.
Y Combinator Supports AI Startup Dehumanizing Factory Workers
Optifye.ai, an AI startup from Y Combinator, is creating a factory worker monitoring system, raising concerns about dehumanization and micromanagement, leading to Y Combinator removing promotional content amid criticism.
'Hey Number 17 '
Optifye.ai, an AI startup backed by Y Combinator, proposes a controversial surveillance system for factory workers, raising ethical concerns about dehumanization and harsh treatment amid criticism and backlash.