AI may come with data privacy concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To track work hours on behalf of employees, AI typically collects employee data, such as internet browsing, mouse or keyboard activity, and communication logs. Some AI-generated time trackers even use facial recognition, thus collecting biometric data. From the gathered data, AI makes conclusions about employees\u2019 job-related activities. Overall, such monitoring can be intrusive. Time trackers that don\u2019t use AI apply different approaches compared to AI-powered tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, to track employee time automatically, AI first needs data sets (sources) for its training. Vice President of Engineering at Clockify, Ljubomir Simin<\/a>, highlights sources used for AI training as a potential threat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNon-AI time tracking tools like Clockify are usually less intrusive, can be manually set by both employees and employers, and they store data on internal servers, in compliance with the Code of Conduct and other legal regulations. On the other hand, AI-powered tools need data sets to be trained before commercial launch. The origin of that data raises moral concerns, as the data is either gathered from customers or employees, bought, or found in external open sources, potentially leading to legal issues.\u201d <\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Doubts about AI are largely present in the US population. For instance, Heartland Forward research<\/a> shows that <\/em>89% of respondents believe <\/em>AI can\u2019t safeguard privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, Gallup found<\/a> that \u201c77% of adults do not trust businesses much (44%) or at all (33%) to use AI responsibly\u201d. <\/em>Moreover, almost 7 in 10 respondents who are extremely knowledgeable about AI do not trust businesses to use AI in a responsible manner.<\/p>\n\n\n \n Start tracking time with Clockify today<\/p>\n \n No more guesswork \u2014 boost your team\u2019s productivity by allocating just the right amount of time for each task with Clockify.<\/p>\n \n While time tracking software can demonstrate how much time an employee spends on each task, AI can\u2019t track every aspect of an average workday, says GPTZero CEO Edward Tian<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn AI tracking tool doesn\u2019t know if employees are taking notes on paper, or if they are having an in-person meeting with a coworker, brainstorming. So, even if employees are actively being productive, AI tracking tools can\u2019t always know that, and in turn, those times will be noted as the person not being productive at all.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, as computer scientist Jennifer Golbeck explained in her TEDx Talk<\/a>, AI tends to hallucinate, which is \u201ca great technical term for the fact that AI just makes stuff up a lot of the time\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, can we rely on AI time trackers for tracking employee productivity? In some ways, yes. AI time tracking tools can help managers collect and analyze data about employees\u2019 productivity. However, AI cannot identify every task employees do, and due to reliability issues, AI-generated reports require fact-checking. Therefore, human judgment remains crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All our experts agree that AI-powered time trackers can foster a culture of distrust and burnout<\/a> if not handled carefully. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe underlying implication of using monitoring software is that management doesn\u2019t trust staff to perform their roles to the best of their abilities, or even worse, that they suspect them of acting dishonestly,\u201d<\/em> says Wendy Makinson<\/a>, HR Manager at Joloda Hydraroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aside from distrust, another possible issue is workplace anxiety, says National Executive Director of Mission Connection Healthcare, Ashley Pe\u00f1a<\/a>. She also warns about managers overrelying on data, explaining that \u201chuman context matters, and AI tools sometimes fail to account for that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, clinical psychologist Dr Nicole Issa<\/a> claims employees can\u2019t precisely know what AI is tracking: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey might feel they need to be on their guard when doing anything that isn\u2019t work, like taking their break, making a coffee, time away from their desk, what time they get to work and leave.\u201d <\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n We also talked with Edel Holliday-Quinn<\/a>, organizational psychologist and founder of the Centre for Leadership Psychology. Holliday-Quinn highlights that the \u201cfeeling of being constantly observed can increase stress and diminish <\/em>psychological safety<\/em><\/a>, leading to disengagement\u201d<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She adds that research has shown surveillance can lead to stress and a sense of alienation, \u201cwith some employees even altering their behavior to appear more productive rather than being genuinely engaged in their work.\u201d <\/em>To avoid these issues, she advises organizations to use AI tools \u201cas helpful resources rather than intrusive enforcers\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The vast majority of leading economies, companies, and experts agree that AI is the future. Recently published EY research<\/a> demonstrates that business leaders will continue with significant AI spending in 2025, as 34% of companies currently investing in AI \u201cplan to invest $10 million or more next year<\/em>\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your company plans to introduce a time tracker, consider what type of tool works best for your needs and discuss it with employees. If you choose an AI-powered time tracker, try to address all their concerns. As Pe\u00f1a concludes, it\u2019s all about fairness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Ljubomir](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify.jpg\")
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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\nAI may potentially have reliability issues<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Edward-Tian.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAI time trackers can erode employees\u2019 trust and wellbeing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Nicole-Issa.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur final verdict: AI-powered time trackers still require human fact-checking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cake.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Ashley-Pena.jpeg\")
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