The untrained tourist eye will see how “advanced” and “polite” china is. Hidden under a thin facade crust, the reality is dystopian.
This woman was forced to span, to avoid penalties, after suffering abuse from a toll customer that made her cry. She did nothing wrong – helped a broken down car to clear the traffic although it’s probably not her responsibility. The video has been posted and shared showing how positive it is how strong and suffering in silence the workers are – but on second thought, it highlights several issues in Chinese culture.
This is relevant for the whole world because it seems we’re aiming to emulate work and societal ethics of China. Hailing China as a model country of efficiency and work ethics. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Creepy society – coming to a western country near you if neoliberal politicians and trend setters have their way…
AI monitoring: the worst possible boss
This isn’t ancient history. It’s a symptom of a much bigger trend: corporate surveillance dressed up as “professionalism.” In China, many highway toll stations explicitly demand staff smile and “see off” departing vehicles — likely under the watchful eye of cameras. Stiff expressions and robotic grins are the result. Similar tech has popped up elsewhere: a Beijing office (Canon) installed AI smile-recognition cameras that literally won’t let employees enter, print documents, or book rooms unless they flash a convincing happy face.
Human managers love this stuff. It creates the illusion of control and “positive energy” without them having to do the dirty work of enforcement. But here’s the twist nobody’s ready for: AI is coming for those managerial jobs — and it’s going to be the most merciless, emotionless boss imaginable.
The Human Manager’s Playbook (Already Dystopian)
Customer-service monitoring isn’t new. Companies penalize employees for “negative facial expressions,” slow response times, or failing to upsell with enthusiasm. In China, emotion-recognition tech tracks anger, sadness, or boredom in real time. Factories use AI to analyze every posture, movement, and even how long you step away from your station — deducting pay automatically if the algorithm decides you’re slacking.
In the West, it’s the same game with different branding:
- Amazon warehouses: AI cameras and wearable trackers log every step, scan rate, and “time off task.” Too many bathroom breaks or a slightly slower pace? Automated warnings or firing.
- Call centers: AI listens to every call, scores your tone, script adherence, and “emotional intelligence” in real time. Deviate and your metrics tank.
- Delivery drivers (UPS, FedEx, Amazon): Sensors and in-cab cameras track braking, speed, seatbelt use, and even yawning. The algorithm decides if you’re “distracted.”
Human managers implement these systems because they hate dealing with “people problems.” They want compliance without confrontation. But they’re still human — sometimes they look away, show mercy, or get bored.
Enter AI: The Boss That Never Sleeps, Never Forgets, and Never Cares
Now imagine that same forced-smile policy, but enforced by an AI that:
- Scans your face 24/7 via workplace cameras.
- Deducts “productivity points” (and pay) for micro-expressions of frustration.
- Generates instant reports flagging you for “low positive energy.”
- Has zero capacity for context like “the customer was screaming at me.”
Chinese factories are already testing exactly this: AI that tracks worker movements in real time, spots “idle moments,” and auto-generates efficiency reports. Some offices have AI that monitors desk presence down to the second. In the West, tools like Amazon’s Driveri cameras or Panorama systems turn existing security cams into AI performance judges.
This is AI coming for middle management — the layer of bosses whose main job is often just enforcing metrics and reporting upward. Why pay a human to watch cameras and yell at people when an algorithm can do it cheaper, faster, and without HR complaints?
The irony is brutal. Workers already complain about micromanaging humans. But an AI manager would be worse: no weekends, no empathy, no “I had a bad day too” moments. It would turn every job into a perpetual performance review under fluorescent lights. Toll booth smiles on steroids — except the AI doesn’t just want the smile; it wants to own your facial muscles, your break times, and your soul.
The Future Is Already Here
We’re not far off. Factories in China are using AI to train robots by watching workers film themselves — literally crowdsourcing their own replacement while being monitored doing it. Offices require smile scans just to brew coffee or adjust the thermostat. In the West, algorithmic management is so common that unions are scrambling to bargain against it.
AI will replace a lot of managerial jobs. The question is whether we’ll celebrate the end of bad human bosses… or realize we just traded flawed people for perfect machines that never give you the benefit of the doubt.
So next time you see a toll booth worker forcing that smile through tears, remember: that’s not just bad management. That’s a preview of the AI boss coming for everyone’s job — from the cashier to the corner-office executive. Smile. You’re being watched. And the algorithm is always right.
What do you think — would you rather have a human manager who occasionally sucks, or an AI one that never does? Drop your thoughts below. (Just make sure your webcam approves the expression first.) 😊
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