African Workers: The Unsung Heroes Fueling AI's Revolution
Published Date: 07/07/2024
Meet the African workers who are powering the AI revolution, for just over a dollar an hour.
The AI revolution is built on the labor of content moderators and data annotators from Africa. Mercy, a content moderator from Nairobi, shares her story of trauma and exhaustion from reviewing disturbing images and videos for Meta.
She is not alone, as thousands of workers in Kenya and Uganda toil in similar conditions, earning just over a dollar an hour. Their work is essential for the functioning of everyday products and services, from social media apps to chatbots and autonomous vehicles. However, their working conditions are often inhumane, with long hours, strict performance targets, and constant surveillance.
FAQS:
Q: What is content moderation?
A: Content moderation is the process of reviewing and removing toxic content from social media platforms.
Q: What is data annotation?
A: Data annotation is the process of labeling data with relevant tags to make it legible for use by computer algorithms.
Q: How much do content moderators and data annotators earn?
A: Content moderators and data annotators in Africa typically earn just over a dollar an hour.
Q: What are the working conditions like for content moderators and data annotators?
A: The working conditions are often inhumane, with long hours, strict performance targets, and constant surveillance.
Q: Why is the labor of content moderators and data annotators essential for the AI revolution?
A: Their labor is essential for the functioning of everyday products and services, from social media apps to chatbots and autonomous vehicles.