Discover the hidden labor force of "data workers" who are essential for training high-level AI systems like ChatGPT and Gemini. While tech leaders often promote a future of total automation, they increasingly rely on a global supply chain of human experts, including American PhD graduates, to annotate data and grade AI responses. These workers frequently face precarious conditions, characterized by fluctuating pay, sudden contract terminations, and exposure to disturbing graphic content. Research indicates that this "gig-ified" knowledge work often results in financial instability, with many highly educated individuals earning low wages without benefits. Critics and labor advocates argue that this system exploits vulnerable populations to enrich a small group of  ...