A potent Cupertino unpacks the exploitative human cost of AI
Cupertino drops a fun twist that harkens back to the heyday of Person Of Interest.
The fifth episode of Cupertino delves into the harsh realities faced by individuals who work as independent contractors for AI companies, shedding light on the exploitative nature of this burgeoning form of labor. In this episode, Olivia Price discovers a woman named Celeste, who works as an AI trainer for WorkSource, an AI firm founded by a young billionaire.
This job, which involves teaching the AI various concepts and tasks, pays Celeste only $500 for 980 trainings, with penalties of $0.01 per mistake. Celeste, an unemployed single mother, has no choice but to take on this job to support her family, despite the low wages and harsh conditions. Olivia approaches Celeste about joining a class action lawsuit against WorkSource, but Celeste is hesitant due to the risk of retaliation from the company.
Instead, Celeste recommends 10 co-workers who were recently fired for attempting to unionize, but none of them seem suitable to stand trial. Olivia convinces Celeste to join the lawsuit despite the dangers, and Celeste ultimately agrees due to her desire for fair wages and rights. However, WorkSource quickly fires Celeste, and Olivia must file an individual suit against WorkSource to protect her friend's rights.
Along the way, the writers emphasize the ease with which companies can take advantage of workers in these conditions, and Celeste's monologue highlights the desperate measures people take to make ends meet in a competitive job market. The AI character, Bo, is present throughout the episode, and it expresses guilt over being built from the labor of people in third-world countries.
The story showcases the deep-rooted issues surrounding AI exploitation and the struggles faced by those in precarious employment situations.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
