AI Promises to Sniff Out Bad Bosses Before It Gets Too Toxic

For browbeaten office workers, liberation — or, at least, a better-mannered boss — may be nigh. A growing category of software is using AI to detect workplace bullying, raising the prospect that toxic managers could soon have fewer places to hide.

Illustration: Stephan Dybus for Bloomberg Businessweek

One such platform, Smarsh Inc., which serves the Bank of New York Mellon Corp., Morgan Stanley and other financial companies, promises to “uncover hidden intent,” according to its website, so employers can spot bullying and harassment “even when it’s subtle.” Global Relay Communications Inc., another software provider, says its systems ensure “bad conduct ...