Woolly Notes

However, current AI systems are nowhere near capable of understanding the nuances of human communication, let alone making complex ethical judgments about content. Sarcasm, cultural context and subtle forms of hate speech often slip through the cracks of even the most sophisticated algorithms.

The AI illusion distances users from the reality of content moderation, much like factory farming distances us from the treatment of egg-laying chickens. This collective willful ignorance allows exploitation to continue unchecked. The AI narrative is a smokescreen that obscures a deeply unethical labor practice that trades human well-being for a... See more

The exploitation of data workers is not a bug, it’s a systemic feature of the industry.

“We cleaned up the mess so everyone else can enjoy a sanitized online world.”

Perhaps the cruelest irony is that we’re traumatizing people to create the illusion of machine intelligence. The trauma inflicted on human moderators is justified by the promise of future AI systems that will not require human intervention. Yet, their development requires more human labor and often the sacrifice of workers’ mental health.

Many told us that despite facing exploitation, they felt unable to speak out publicly. Because their employment is tied to their visas, the risk of being fired and deported looms.