‘Overworked, underpaid’ humans train Google’s AI

The title seems kinda misleading, this is from the article (GlobalLogic is the company contracted by Google):

"AI raters at GlobalLogic are paid more than their data-labeling counterparts in Africa and South America, with wages starting at $16 an hour for generalist raters and $21 an hour for super raters, according to workers. Some are simply thankful to have a gig as the US job market sours, but others say that trying to make Google’s AI products better has come at a personal cost."

That argument is as old as any mistreated worker complaining about their situation and as old as any argument against workers rights in general. Anybody not liking their job could just leave right? Simple! No, the world just isn't that simple and it didn't become simpler just because it happens in an AI context that produces a tool you like.

There are lots of jobs out there that suck and people do them anyway. Because the freedom that they supposedly have is not as free as you imagine.

So what specific rights do you think they should have that they don't right now?

They're making more money than minimum wage. They're free to leave. It's not violating any safety regulations. There aren't any complaints of harassment.

So what precisely is the complaint here around worker's rights?

I think the complaint is that they should have safety regulations. the impact of these gigs on mental health is well documented