Reporter Andy Newman, microworker Michelle Munoz, and analyst Ronald Schmelzer discuss how microwork is shaping AI. They cover tasks on Mechanical Turk, challenges faced by microworkers in Venezuela, and the importance of data labeling in AI development. The podcast also touches on the impact of microwork on workers' rights and the evolving landscape of task-based project work.
Microworkers help develop AI by labeling data for machines to learn human-like tasks.
Micro-work poses challenges like low pay and lack of labor rights for workers worldwide.
Deep dives
Micro Work Industry and Training AI
The podcast delves into the micro-work industry where individuals earn money by completing small online tasks, illustrating the growth of this sector. It highlights examples of tasks like transcribing receipts or creating artwork for minimal pay. Additionally, the episode explores how micro-workers contribute to training artificial intelligence, teaching machines to recognize images or text, ultimately helping them learn to perform human-like tasks.
Challenges and Community in Micro Work
The challenges and dynamics of micro-work are discussed, showcasing issues such as low pay and competition for higher-paying tasks. The podcast emphasizes the existence of a community of 'Turkers' who share experiences and warn others about employers who underpay or reject work arbitrarily. It also sheds light on the disparity in earnings between experienced workers and newcomers in the micro-work industry.
Impact and Controversies of Micro Work
The impact and controversies surrounding micro-work are addressed, questioning whether workers are being exploited for low wages in this gig economy. The conversation raises concerns about the lack of labor rights and social safety nets for workers engaged in such tasks. Moreover, the podcast underscores the broader implications of micro-work on labor markets worldwide, highlighting the shift towards task-driven, project-based employment without traditional labor protections.
How the rise of 'microwork' is helping develop artificial intelligence. Ed Butler speaks to New York Times reporter Andy Newman about his experience on Mechanical Turk - the Amazon-owned platform that offers tiny jobs for tiny wages. Microworker Michelle Munoz explains how she makes a good living from online microwork in Venezuela. Ronald Schmelzer, analyst at Cognilytica, an AI market research firm, explains why data-labelling tasks common on microworking sites play a central role in developing artificial intelligence. And researcher and author Mary Gray warns about the impact of microwork on workers' rights.
Producer: Edwin Lane
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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