An Open Access article titled “The problem with annotation. Human labour and outsourcing between France and Madagascar” has been published in the journal Big Data & Society. The article, authored by Clément Le Ludec, Maxime Cornet, and Antonio A Casilli from DiPLab, delves into the intricate interplay between artificial intelligence (AI) development and human labor division, focusing on the outsourcing of AI-related tasks from France to Madagascar.
The study, funded by the French National Research Agency under the project HUSH (The Human Supply Chain Behind Smart Technologies), sheds light on the intricate relationship between technology, labor, and globalization. By offering a comprehensive view of AI’s impact on labor dynamics, this article contributes to a more holistic understanding of the role AI plays in shaping modern economies.
To read the full article, visit the [SAGE Journals] website.
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The research challenges conventional narratives of AI’s impact on labor markets, spotlighting how AI’s growth has led to an increased demand for outsourced data workers. Companies and crowdwork platforms are now integral in generating, annotating, and enriching data, often utilizing workers from low-income countries who receive meager compensation. The study meticulously examines the complexities of multinational subcontracting networks that these workers must navigate.
Through interviews with data workers, insights from French start-up employees, and secondary research on specific AI systems, the research reconstructs the end-to-end value chain behind AI production. The study unveils the significance of data classification and the problem-solving process in the artificial intelligence context. Contrary to common assumptions, the article reveals that commercial AI doesn’t solely replace service jobs through automation. Instead, it extends the labor outsourcing chain by relocating tasks to the Global South.
