If you have been working with AI tools, I’m sure you’re aware of the basics of how they work. These tools work best when they have enough datasets to draw on, and as a result, companies that are heavily leaning into AI are now actively training their AI models. A few weeks back, we saw DoorDash using its delivery partners to try training AI data by letting them complete tasks. Now, it looks like Indian companies are also following in the same footsteps, as recently, an Indian-based startup, Pronto, has been accused of using training AI via their services.
A report has raised serious concerns about the home services startup potentially using footage collected inside customers’ homes to train physical AI systems. Ever since the report got out, the backlash towards the company on the platform has been swift. Heck, even the rival Urban Company’s founder had to distance his platform from any such malpractices publicly. Let’s take a look at what’s going on.
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According to a report by Entrackr, the Pronto may have quietly been building something far greater on the side, which is much different from the usual home services they offer. This comes after the investor documents of the company were reviewed by Entrackr.
In an internal memo, Glade Brook Capital states that “Pronto is seeking to formalise India’s vast informal labour markets and in the process generate data to help train physical AI and robotics”, adding that the company also stated that they are already “piloting real-world training data with leading physical AI labs”.
After the issue got a bit more widespread, the company acknowledged the issue and released a statement on their X handle saying, “Unless you have opted in and paid for the program personally, the Pro doesn’t come to the house with a camera.”
Further stating, “By default, there is no camera involved, and when there is, it’s impossible to miss. The pilot reaches 0.1% of customers and we spent months to ensure full DPDP compliance. And we are not the only company in the space doing this”.
After the report was released, it triggered immediate concern among users, with many questioning whether other home services platforms operate similarly. The response is understandable given that having a camera inside your home raises real questions about consent, governance, and privacy.
An X user, @AditiS90, shared her concern, asking the company for a response. While the company did give out a response, later on, they also restricted her Pronto account. As per the user, the account was working fine before; it got restricted after the tweet started going viral.
Pronto isn’t the only company that is currently serving the home service market. A popular competitor includes the likes of Urban Company, which does compete in the same market. Seeing the outrage, the Urban Company co-founder and CEO, Abhiraj Singh Bhal, moved quickly to address the concerns related to the services they offer.
In a post on X today, he stated that Urban Company does not engage in any such recording activities, has never done so, and has no plans to do so. “We are in the business of trust,” he wrote, adding that customer privacy is “paramount” and that the company remains committed to “the highest standards of confidentiality, safety, and trust”.
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