Food delivery riders call on platforms to open up AI ‘black box’ they say has cut pay
Workers who blame algorithms for lowering their earnings are getting help from academics to find out how the system works Gig economy workers are urging delivery platforms to open up the “black box” of computer-driven algorithms that determine the jobs they are offered and how much they are paid, blaming increased use of AI for lowering wages. A group of food delivery riders in Edinburgh say…
Food delivery riders are demanding that platforms disclose the inner workings of AI algorithms that dictate their earnings, blaming reduced pay on increased automation. In Edinburgh, a group of gig economy workers is teaming up with academics from St Andrews and Edinburgh universities to investigate the opaque "black box" that determines job offers and pay.
David, a seven-year food rider, cites a halving of his earnings over four years, despite working the same hours. Xabier Villares, the observatory's lead organiser, notes a dramatic shift in the past three years and points to "dynamic pricing" algorithms that match supply and demand. These algorithms allegedly cut driver earnings, leading to a legal class action in Amsterdam.
The delivery platforms deny such allegations and attribute pay fluctuations to other factors. Riders maintain detailed records to monitor their income, revealing a decline in the average fee per order. The major platforms claim riders are not deactivated for rejecting job offers and emphasize that the algorithm, named Frank, aims to optimize delivery efficiency.
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