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The business plan of Micro AGI relies on data. By harvesting this raw and anonymous video, they hope to create databases which can then be sold to other robotics and AI firms. However, the breadth of their goals is much bigger than just doing housework; they are currently deploying mechanics in Turkey for filming car repairs with the hope of proving that almost anything humans know can be taught to an AI machine.

A High Price Paid for 'Free' Services

In spite of the novelty and the obvious benefit, experts on privacy are warning of a major threat. It is noted that the exchange of privacy for convenience is a risky move. Rory Mir, director of open access and technology community outreach at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, is noting an "alarming trend in what I would call 'data bribing.'"

He stresses that although the service might seem free now, the price of such an action remains unclear. "The data you give will definitely come back to haunt you. While you may feel comfortable sharing that information with a company, even a well-respected one, there is no way you can be sure that the company won't give out that data to other companies and government organizations," he says.
However, Calli Schroeder, the director of the AI and Human Rights Programme at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, is even more pessimistic about the project. She calls the programme a "diabolically creative way to sell privacy invasion." In her opinion, the amount of useful data collected by monitoring the process of cleaning inside one's house far surpasses the value of the free cleaning service itself. In addition, according to Schroeder, people do not appreciate the amount of personal data that can be collected while the camera captures everything that the cleaner sees during his cleaning of every corner of one's private property.

The Transactional Future Ahead

Faced with these objections, Kilic holds his ground. He maintains that Shift is the most transparent platform, insisting that the users have been tracked by the social media companies and websites for years now without even knowing about it.

"Obviously, your data is getting used every single day, but you do not know why, and you are not paid for it," says Kilic. "But with a free service, at least you are getting paid, and it is as transactional as that."

The excitement of being at the forefront of the AI revolution seems to make up for any invasion of privacy for many people. Some individuals who take part in this process see it as an empowering activity and a way to actively shape the future of the world of work. Being involved in such a transition is an exhilarating stage of their career for the Gen Z workers.