Bengaluru techie fires cook after AI monitor catches fruit theft

Bengaluru techie Pankaj Tanwar used an AI-powered camera to catch his cook stealing fruit. He fired her, sparking online debate over surveillance ethics

A Bengaluru-based tech professional has sparked debate online after revealing he used an AI-powered monitoring system to catch his cook stealing fruit from his refrigerator. Pankaj Tanwar, who often shares his tech experiments on social media, said his “AI roommate” recorded the cook taking apples, blueberries, and a banana on multiple occasions.

Tanwar explained in a post on X that he had suspected theft and deployed the AI system in his kitchen. The setup involved a surveillance camera connected to an AI chatbot, which tracked the cook’s actions and sent him detailed reports. According to screenshots shared, the AI noted not only the stolen fruit but also her hygiene practices, such as touching the dustbin lid before cooking and failing to clean certain areas of the kitchen.

The AI’s weekly report claimed the cook had taken three apples, a banana, and several blueberries, while also pointing out lapses in cleaning. Tanwar said he confronted her twice before but, after repeated incidents, decided to terminate her employment.

His system works by feeding blurred CCTV footage into a vision AI model, which interprets the scene and relays information to a language model. Tanwar described it as an early prototype, adding that he plans to expand its capabilities to include gas detection and idle time tracking.

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The revelation has triggered mixed reactions online. Some users criticized Tanwar for surveilling his domestic help and firing her over fruit worth far less than her monthly salary of ₹4,800. Others questioned the ethics of using AI for household surveillance, suggesting he could have offered food instead. Tanwar defended his decision, stating he was fine with sharing food when asked but considered theft unacceptable.

The incident highlights both the growing use of AI in everyday life and the ethical dilemmas it raises, particularly when applied to personal relationships and domestic work.

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