The Biden administration is preparing to examine how companies use artificial intelligence to monitor and manage workers. According to Bloomberg, the White House will publish a blog post later today that invites American workers to share how automated tools are being used in their workplaces. "While these technologies can benefit both workers and employers in some cases, they can also create serious risks to workers," the post states, per Bloomberg. "The constant tracking of performance can push workers to move too fast on the job, posing risks to their safety and mental health." Citing media reports, the White House adds the technology has also been used to deter workers from organizing their workplaces and to perpetuate pay and discipline discrimination.

Telco equipment maker Nokia, Japanese telco NTT DoCoMo, and industrial automation company Omron have agreed to conduct 5G trials at their plants and production sites. As part of the trial, the trio will look to couple 5G and artificial intelligence together to create "real-time coaching" for workers. "Machine operators will be monitored using cameras, with an AI-based system providing feedback on their performance based on an analysis of their movements," Nokia said in a statement. "This will help improve the training of technicians by detecting and analysing the differences of motion between more skilled and less skilled personnel." The trial will also test how reliable 5G is when the movement of people and background noise from machinery is involved.

Science fiction has long imagined a future in which humans constantly interact with robots and intelligent machines. This future is already happening in warehouses and manufacturing businesses. Other workers use virtual or augmented reality as part of their employment training, to assist them in performing their job or to interact with clients. And lots of workers are under automated surveillance from their employers. All that automation yields data that can be used to analyze workers' performance.

From robot workers to drone deliveries, Amazon is known for using innovative and futuristic technologies. But the latest patent suggests that the firm wants to take things further, and use technology to track its workers. The patent reveals designs for ultrasonic wristbands that could be used to monitor workers' performance. The latest patent suggests that Amazon wants to take things further, and use technology to track its workers. The patent reveals designs for ultrasonic wristbands that could be used to monitor workers' performance The patent describes'ultrasonic tracking of a worker's hands' that would be used to'monitor performance of assigned tasks.'