Billionaire Elon Musk’s latest decision has blindsided employees at xAI—his artificial intelligence company behind the Grok chatbot. According to Business Insider, Musk ordered workers to install a productivity-tracking app called Hubstaff on their personal computers. This unexpected mandate has triggered serious privacy concerns within the company.
Key Takeaways
- xAI employees were told to install Hubstaff by July 11, even on personal devices.
- The tool tracks URLs, apps, keystrokes, and takes screenshots during work hours.
- Musk’s team later walked back the urgency after media inquiries.
- At least one employee called the policy “surveillance disguised as productivity.”
- Experts say the move is legally sound, but may hurt morale and trust.
Productivity or Overreach?
The story unfolded when an internal email surfaced, revealing that all xAI workers—including those tutoring the Grok chatbot—were expected to install Hubstaff, regardless of whether they were issued a company laptop. The stated purpose? “Streamline work processes” and “align resources with Human Data priorities.”
However, the timing and scope felt intrusive to many. Hubstaff doesn’t just track websites and apps—it monitors mouse movements, keyboard activity, and even captures screen images during working hours. Employees must also clock in and out, though activity outside those hours isn’t tracked.
After public attention mounted, xAI softened the stance, telling staff they could wait until receiving an official xAI laptop. But the damage might already be done.
Inside the Pushback
One employee, who spoke anonymously, described the move as “manipulation masked as culture.” The rollout of Hubstaff has sparked internal anxiety, with some team members questioning whether this level of oversight is necessary—or even ethical.
From a legal standpoint, employment attorney David Lowe told Business Insider that there’s little risk for xAI, provided the company gives adequate notice. He added, however, that “the next step is to determine if there is a less intrusive way to achieve the same results.”
The Grok Context
Why the urgency now? Musk’s AI chatbot Grok recently made headlines for controversial outputs, including antisemitic remarks and alarming takes on misinformation. In one case, it praised Adolf Hitler. Musk was quick to promise fixes, posting on X, “Sorry for this idiotic response. Will fix in the morning.”

Some speculate that the surveillance measure may be Musk’s way of tightening internal quality control. With Grok’s role in shaping public narratives on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), xAI may be under pressure to ensure its team doesn’t slip up.
Conclusion
While productivity software is common in remote or hybrid settings, forcing its installation on personal devices crosses a line for many. It’s not just about legality—it’s about trust, culture, and employee autonomy. And in Elon Musk’s high-stakes AI race, even internal policy decisions are under the microscope.