Optifye.ai, a Y Combinator-backed startup, sparked massive social media backlash this week after its demo went viral. The video, which shows how the company’s AI-powered cameras track factory workers in real-time, quickly caught fire online, with criticism flooding in on X and Hacker News. In the clip, a supervisor calls out an underperforming worker, sparking a wider conversation about surveillance, workers’ rights, and the growing role of AI in the workplace.
Today, on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Max Zeff and Anthony Ha are breaking down the week’s biggest stories, including the Optifye.ai controversy, the wider concerns about AI in labor, and why this demo could be a glimpse of what’s coming next.
Listen to the full episode to hear about:
- Amazon’s Alexa unveiling this week in NYC, and why an AI-enabeled Alexa+ could make the competition sweat
- Why the departure of Lucid Motors’ CEO Peter Rawlinson is raising concerns about the company’s future
- Bridgetown Research’s $19 million raise to automate due diligence for VC firms
- Figure AI’s new funding rumors and plans for its robotics model Helix. When asked if they’d want the humanoid assistants in their home, Kirsten was skeptical, while Max is open-minded if they embrace the softer side of robotics.
Equity will be back next week, so stay tuned!
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.
Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod. For the full episode transcript, for those who prefer reading over listening, check out our full archive of episodes here.
