Workers fear AI replacement as companies seek expertise for training

In early 2026, Meta informed U.S. employees that software would track mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes to train AI agents on human workflows. Similar efforts are underway at McKinsey, which developed its generative AI, Lilli, by leveraging internal expertise. The director of design for Lilli explained that the goal was to extract knowledge from experts and make it an organization-wide resource. Faisal Hoque, a business leader, emphasizes frameworks to align purpose, people, process, and tech. Recent layoffs in tech, including 8,000 Meta employees in May 2026, highlight growing concerns about AI replacing human workers. Over 175,000 tech workers have been laid off in 2026, with AI cited as the primary reason. Experts warn that companies aim to use employee expertise to train AI agents, which could lead to job displacement. In a Harvard Data Science Review article, the author argues that AI has improved knowledge retrieval by enabling large language models to search unstructured data and answer questions in natural language. The article concludes that while AI helps with knowledge retrieval, businesses must approach this transition carefully. Employees are rational in resisting, as they fear being replaced once their expertise is transferred to AI systems. The challenge lies in balancing innovation with the human element in the workforce.