An AI job boom? Here’s what the tedious, temporary work in data labelling is actually like
Interviews with data workers in China and Australia reveal the precarious, exploitative conditions of this new branch of the gig economy.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating jobs, but they often involve mundane and demanding tasks. Before AI models can learn, human workers must prepare vast amounts of text, images, audio, and video data for AI training. These data workers, predominantly young and digitally literate, are usually underpaid and work in precarious conditions.
They are often recruited through gig platforms, classified as "users," with no formal contracts and minimal rights. Most perform general tasks, such as labeling images or annotating audio, earning as little as $6 per day. As AI advances, these workers face fewer tasks and more difficult ones, which are time-consuming and cognitively demanding.
Many have limited employment prospects, leading to a cycle of poor pay and exploitation. The AI economy's promise of job creation may not translate into better working conditions, highlighting the need for protective measures and a long-term plan for this workforce.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
