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Y Combinator deletes posts after a startup’s demo goes viral
In a move that has sparked widespread debate and outrage, the popular accelerator program Y Combinator has deleted several social media posts featuring Optifye.ai, a member of its current cohort. The controversy surrounds a demo video showcasing the startup’s AI-powered software tracking worker productivity in factories.
The deleted content on X (and LinkedIn) appears to have been an excerpt from a promotional presentation or demo by Optifye.co-founder Kushal Mohta, who acted as the boss of a garment factory. In the clip, he calls his supervisor co-founder Vivaan Baid about a low-performing worker known only as “Number 17.” The exchange highlights how Optifye’s AI-powered security cameras monitor workers’ efficiency and output in real-time.
Criticism emerged on X, Hacker News, and other platforms, with some users labeling the demo as “sweatshop software” or “computer vision sweatshop technology.” A few users, however, defended the startup, citing the existence of similar surveillance products in China and India. This sparked a heated debate about the ethics of workplace monitoring using AI.
In response to the backlash, Y Combinator decided to remove its social media posts featuring the demo video. While Optifye.ai has not issued a statement on the matter, it is unclear whether this decision was made at their request or solely by Y Combinator.
This controversy highlights the growing concerns about workplace surveillance and AI’s potential impact on worker rights. The issue is particularly relevant in industries where labor practices have raised ethical questions.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/25/y-combinator-deletes-posts-after-a-startups-demo-goes-viral/
