Bengaluru-based home services startup Pronto has addressed concerns surrounding the recording of videos inside customers’ homes for AI training purposes, following criticism on social media over privacy and data usage practices.
The discussion began after a journalist claimed on X that Pronto professionals were using “small outward-facing cameras during select opt-in jobs” as part of the company’s investor-backed Physical AI vision.
“Important: How Pronto is turning Indian homes into training grounds for its investors’ Physical AI vision. Did you know? Pronto professionals use small outward-facing cameras during select opt-in jobs, and customers receive the footage afterward,” the journalist wrote.
The post received more than 2 lakh views and triggered a wider debate around AI adoption and privacy concerns.
Responding to the criticism, Pronto stated that no recordings are made without a customer’s explicit consent. The company clarified that customers who choose not to participate in the AI training programme will not have professionals carrying cameras into their homes.
The startup further explained that participation is not a one-time approval and must be confirmed before every booking. It also stated that the programme currently reaches only 0.1% of customers and that the company spent months ensuring compliance with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act.
In its statement on X, Pronto said, “Unless you have opted-in and paid for the program personally, the Pro doesn’t come to the house with a camera.”
“Opt in is not one time, it has to be affirmed before each booking. 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,” it added.
Founded in April 2025 by 23-year-old Anjali Sardana, Pronto connects users with trained domestic workers through its app. Customers can book services such as sweeping, utensil washing, kitchen and bathroom cleaning, mopping, laundry, and other household chores. The Bengaluru-based startup has reached a valuation of $100 million in less than a year since its launch.
Before launching Pronto, Sardana worked at Bain Capital and venture firm 8VC and studied at Georgetown University in the US.
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