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The Workers at the Frontlines of the AI Revolution
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The Workers at the Frontlines of the AI Revolution

The global labor force of outsourced and contract workers are early adopters of generative AI — and the most at risk

Andrew Deck
Medium, 2023
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Offshore workers – from freelance creatives to call center clerks – find that generative AI affects them in different ways. Some boosted their earnings by quickly embracing AI tools. Others worry about layoffs or increased pressure to produce more work for less pay. In this nuanced Medium article, Andrew Deck, a Rest of the World reporter, interviews experts on the interplay between technology and labor as well as far-flung workers to show how generative AI is reshaping work. He draws from a survey of more than 31,000 tech, finance and media workers. His case histories of freelancers who compare their output with and without AI illustrate most vividly this rapid transition.

Take-Aways

  • New AI tools allow many freelance creative professionals to work faster, but it may force their fees down in the long term.
  • Generative AI affects how people work in formal, offshore settings – and it may lead to layoffs.
  • Researchers are skeptical of the idea that AI will eliminate the need for human workers.

About the Author

Andrew Deck is a reporter at Rest of World covering digital culture and subcultures with a focus on global social media platforms. This column appeared on Medium.

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