The Workers Behind AI
Workers around the world collect and annotate data and then train and evaluate AI models to make them work. These workers are paid as little as $1.50/hour around the Global South to power billion-dollar companies, all while being deliberately obscured by AI companies through layers of contractors and non-disclosure agreements.
15 research items · 1 bill
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How we can protect workers in the age of AI
California is home to both the country’s highest concentration of billionaires and the highest poverty rate.
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Ghosts in the AI Machine – In a nutshell
From voice assistants to tenant screening tools, AI systems have entered many facets of everyday life.
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Ghost Workers in the AI Machine: U.S. Data Workers Speak Out About Big Tech’s Exploitation
Google recently reportedly fired hundreds of contractors working on AI products amid conflicts over pay and working conditions.
In the legislature
The 2026 bills on this issue. TechEquity Action, our 501(c)(4), leads the legislative work.
| Bill | What it does | Author | Position | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB 2653 | Sweatshop Free AI Act | Lee | Sponsored | No outcome reported |
In the news
NewsroomThe Human in the Loop: what’s it like to work in the AI supply chain?
Computer Says Maybe
Connected issues
All twelve issues
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