O chão de fábrica (brasileiro) da inteligência artificial: a produção de dados e o papel da comunicação entre trabalhadores de Appen e Lionbridge

Rafael Grohmann; Willian Fernandes Araújo

doi:10.5294/pacla.2021.24.3.8

Authors

Rafael Grohmann Author Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1063-8668
Willian Fernandes Araújo Author Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3271-6690

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5294/pacla.2021.24.3.8

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, data production, platforms, labor, communication

Abstract

The article analyzes Brazilians’ work in global artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, especially Appen and Lionbridge, through exploratory research. We highlight the role of communication and data production for AI, outlining labor conditions and complexities as the factory floor. Thus, we interviewed workers and conducted observations in WhatsApp and Facebook groups. We divided the findings into five categories according to workers’ perception: hiring processes, time tracking and difficulties proving hours worked, lack of infrastructural reliability, work strategies and definition, and, finally, understanding of AI. Contrary to digital labor universalism, there is geopolitics in AI platform labor. The material conditions of data production and the role of communication among workers stand out as emerging and complex solidarities, as fissures and cracks, to devise strategies that deal with AI platform labor.

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Author Biography

Rafael Grohmann, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Professor do Mestrado e Doutorado em Ciências da Comunicação da Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos). Doutor em Ciências da Comunicação pela Universidade de São Paulo. Coordenador do Laboratório de Pesquisa DigiLabour e da newsletter DigiLAbour. Pesquisador Principal do projeto Fairwork no Brasil. Seus interesses de pesquisa incluem trabalho digital, cooperativismo de plataforma, dataficação, organização dos trabalhadores, comunicação e trabalho.

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