Y Combinator-Backed AI Startup Faces Backlash Over Worker Surveillance Demo

Optifye.ai's promotional video showcasing AI-powered factory monitoring software has drawn criticism for its dehumanizing portrayal of worker oversight.

Optifye.ai, co-founded by Indian-origin entrepreneurs Vivaan Baid and Kushal Mohta, uses AI and computer vision to monitor factory workers' productivity in real-time.
A demo video posted by Y Combinator showed the software being used to reprimand a worker labeled as 'Number 17' for low efficiency, sparking accusations of promoting exploitative labor practices.
The video was deleted from Y Combinator's social media channels after widespread criticism, but not before it was saved and shared by multiple accounts online.
Critics have compared the technology to 'sweatshops-as-a-service,' while some defenders argued that similar systems are already in use in global manufacturing industries.
The backlash highlights growing concerns over AI-driven workplace surveillance and its implications for worker rights and dignity.