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The digital labour of artificial intelligence in Latin America: a comparison of Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela

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  • Paola Tubaro

    (CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - GENES - Groupe des Écoles Nationales d'Économie et Statistique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - GENES - Groupe des Écoles Nationales d'Économie et Statistique - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - GENES - Groupe des Écoles Nationales d'Économie et Statistique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Antonio A. Casilli

    (NOS - Numérique, Organisation et Société - I3 SES - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation de Telecom Paris - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SES - Département Sciences Economiques et Sociales - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Mariana Fernández Massi

    (IdIHCS - Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales [La Plata] - CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] - FaHCE - Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación [La Plata] - UNLP - Universidad Nacional de la Plata [Argentine], CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires])

  • Julieta Longo

    (IdIHCS - Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales [La Plata] - CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires] - FaHCE - Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación [La Plata] - UNLP - Universidad Nacional de la Plata [Argentine], CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [Buenos Aires])

  • Juana Torres-Cierpe

    (Inria Siège - Inria - Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique)

  • Matheus Viana Braz

    (UEM - Universidade Estadual de Maringá [Brasil] = State University of Maringá [Brazil] = Université d'État de Maringá [Brésil])

Abstract

The current hype around artificial intelligence (AI) conceals the substantial human intervention underlying its development. This article lifts the veil on the precarious and low-paid ‘data workers' who prepare data to train, test, check, and otherwise support models in the shadow of globalized AI production. We use original questionnaire and interview data collected from 220 workers in Argentina (2021-22), 477 in Brazil (2023), and 214 in Venezuela (2021-22). We compare them to detect common patterns and reveal the specificities of data work in Latin America, while disclosing its role in AI production. We show that data work is intertwined with economic hardship, inequalities, and informality. Despite workers' high educational attainment, disadvantage is widespread, though with cross-country disparities. By acknowledging the interconnections between AI development, data work, and globalized production, we provide insights for the regulation of AI and the future of work, aiming to achieve positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Suggested Citation

  • Paola Tubaro & Antonio A. Casilli & Mariana Fernández Massi & Julieta Longo & Juana Torres-Cierpe & Matheus Viana Braz, 2025. "The digital labour of artificial intelligence in Latin America: a comparison of Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela," Post-Print hal-04935984, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04935984
    DOI: 10.1080/14747731.2025.2465171
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-04935984v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paola Tubaro & Antonio A. Casilli & Marion Coville, 2020. "The trainer, the verifier, the imitator: Three ways in which human platform workers support artificial intelligence," Post-Print hal-02554196, HAL.
    2. Schmidt, Florian A., 2019. "Crowdproduktion von Trainingsdaten: Zur Rolle von Online-Arbeit beim Trainieren autonomer Fahrzeuge," Study / edition der Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf, volume 127, number 417.
    3. Fabian Stephany & Otto Kassi & Uma Rani & Vili Lehdonvirta, 2021. "Online Labour Index 2020: New ways to measure the world's remote freelancing market," Papers 2105.09148, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2021.
    4. Grohmann, Rafael & Pereira, Gabriel & Guerra, Abel & Abilio, Ludmila Costhek & Moreschi, Bruno & Jurno, Amanda, 2022. "Platform scams: Brazilian workers’ experiences of dishonest and uncertain algorithmic management," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115622, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Datta, Namita & Rong, Chen & Singh, Sunamika & Stinshoff, Clara & Iacob, Nadina & Nigatu, Natnael Simachew & Nxumalo, Mpumelelo & Klimaviciute, Luka, 2023. "Working Without Borders: The Promise and Peril of Online Gig Work," Jobs Group Papers, Notes, and Guides 32573393, The World Bank.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    Artificial intelligence; Data work; Informal economy; Global inequalities; Latin America;
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