Learners in the loop: hidden human skills in machine intelligence

Journal title SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
Author/s Paola Tubaro
Publishing Year 2022 Issue 2022/163
Language English Pages 20 P. 110-129 File size 236 KB
DOI 10.3280/SL2022-163006
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Today’s artificial intelligence, largely based on data-intensive machine learning algorithms, relies heavily on the digital labour of invisibilized and precarized humans-in-the-loop who perform multiple functions of data preparation, verification of results, and even impersonation when algorithms fail. Using original quantitative and qualitative data, the present article shows that these workers are highly educated, engage significant (sometimes advanced) skills in their activity, and earnestly learn alongside machines. However, the loop is one in which human workers are at a disadvantage as they experience systematic misrecognition of the value of their competencies and of their contributions to technology, the economy, and ultimately society. This situation hinders negotiations with companies, shifts power away from workers, and challenges the traditional balancing role of the salary institution.

Keywords: Digital labour platforms, Artificial intelligence, Skills, Spanish-speaking countries

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Paola Tubaro, Learners in the loop: hidden human skills in machine intelligence in "SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO " 163/2022, pp 110-129, DOI: 10.3280/SL2022-163006