Source: a16z
Recording software embedded in videoconferencing, messaging, and collaboration tools has shifted from opt-in to ambient default, creating permanent archives of workplace communication that feed AI training pipelines and compliance systems. This changes the power dynamic inside organizations: management gains granular behavioral data and conversation transcripts to optimize workflows and audit employee performance, while workers lose the ability to have "off the record" exchanges. The shift affects how people negotiate raises and build trust with colleagues. The taboo around this shift reflects a genuine tension: companies can't stop recording because competitors won't, creating a coordination problem that favors surveillance as the default state.