Uncovering the Invisible Workforce: Mapping the Working Conditions of Sub-Saharan Africa’s Data Workers in the AI Ecosystem
This project investigates the working conditions of data workers in Sub-Saharan Africa who enable the global artificial intelligence ecosystem. Using Karl Marx’s Workers’ Inquiry method that prioritizes workers’ voices, it will examine job security, wages, and legal protections. By analyzing policies, laws, and industry structures impacting these workers, the project aims to identify interventions to ensure decent work in AI. Outcomes include informing workers’ rights advocacy, policy revisions, and future initiatives targeting improved labour conditions for this crucial invisible workforce.
The project will collect qualitative data from workers and policy documents. Analysis will be both thematic and critical discourse. Initial outputs are academic publications and conference presentations to enable future research funding and practical applications.
References.
Gray, M. L., & Suri, S. (2019). Ghost Work: How to Stop Silicon Valley from Building a New Global Underclass (Illustrated edition). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
McAllister, C. (2022). Introduction to Karl Marx’s Workers’ Inquiry. Notes From Below. https://notesfrombelow.org/article/introduction-karl-marxs-workers-inquiry
Williams, A., Miceli, M., & Gebru, T. (2022). The Exploited Labor Behind Artificial Intelligence. Noema Magazine. https://www.noemamag.com/the-exploited-labor-behind-artificial-intelligence
Main Research Topics
- Data workers
- Artificial intelligence
- Working conditions
- Labor rights
- Workers inquiry
Research Results
During my CAIS fellowship, I investigated the hidden labor force behind artificial intelligence in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the working conditions of data workers who label, moderate, and process information for global tech companies. Through interviews, I uncovered challenges such as low wages, job insecurity, and lack of legal protections, which often reflect the absence of enforceable labor standards.
Beyond research, I actively supported workers in their unionization efforts, a commitment I continue to uphold. Through collaborations with the Weizenbaum Institute, I helped data workers amplify their voices by connecting them with media, crafting advocacy strategies, and building networks with Global North collaborators. These efforts empowered workers to articulate their experiences and demands, contributing to greater awareness of their labor conditions. This work aims to foster equitable AI development and ensure the dignity and rights of the invisible workforce that powers the digital economy.
Invited Talks:
- October 17, 2024: Connected Conversation: Generative AI and Worker Rights: https://connectedbydata.org/events/2024-10-17-connected-conversation-gen-ai
- HR Workshop Yale Law School: “Digital Servitude: How Many Humans Does It Take to Make AI Think?”
- December 11, 2024: Talk at “In the Belly of AI workshop”, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom https://www.mctd.ac.uk/events/workshop-in-the-belly-of-ai/
Curriculum Vitae
- Researcher, Distributed AI Research Institute (Nov 2023 – Present) Investigate human labor & data collection enabling AI systems
- Intern, Distributed AI Research Institute (Mar 2023 – Nov 2023) Study examining data worker conditions contributing to AI
- Lecturer, Constructor University (Sep 2023 – Present) Teach course analyzing digital culture and consumerism
- PhD Fellow, Bremen International Graduate School (Feb 2021 – Present) Research analyzing digitalization’s impact on labor markets and decent work in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Research Fellow, Weizenbaum Institute (Oct 2023) Examined algorithmic management practices in African platform economies
Publications and Presentations
Presentations
- 2023-06-20 Weizenbaum conference “AI, Big Data, Social Media, and People on the Move”- AI and Inequality in Recruitment and hiring
- 2023-06-28 Global Perspectives on Platforms, Labor & Social Reproduction Conference, Amsterdam – Critiquing the techno-optimistic view of platform labour in Sub-saharan Africa
- 2023-10-08 IGF 2023 Day 0 Event #112 Global Internet Governance Academic Network Annual Symposium 2-
Publications
- Dinika, A.T (2022). What do US-China ICT investments imply for Africa’s socio-economic development? (Op ed) https://gga.org/us-china-ict-investments-implications-for-africas-socioeconomic-development/
- Dinika, A.T & Sloane, M. (2023) AI and Inequality in Hiring: A field scan. Conference proceedings for the Weizenbaum conference https://www.weizenbaum-institut.de/media/Publikationen/Weizenbaum_Proceedings/proceedings_weizenbaum_conference_2023_korr.pdf