Hundreds of Google AI Workers Were Fired Amid Fight Over Working Conditions https://www.wired.com/story/hundreds-of-google-ai-workers-were-fired-amid-fight-over-working-conditions/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-intl Over 200 contractors who work on improving Google’s AI products, including Gemini and AI Overviews, have been laid off, sources say. It’s the latest development in a conflict over pay and alleged poor working conditions.
https://www.thehrdigest.com/google-ai-contract-workers-fired-amid-disputes-over-pay-and-working-conditions/ , Google has spent the last few years outsourcing its AI rating work to businesses like GlobalLogic and many others. These raters are tasked with aiding Google’s AI products in developing a more nuanced understanding of the raw data and its interpretations for user responses.
While we know that the Google AI raters were fired from their roles, there has been a change at the subcontractor firm, GlobalLogic, as well. A rushed return-to-office mandate in Texas was part of the problem, with many workers reporting difficulties in adhering to the demand. Additionally, workers also claimed that they were both underpaid and overworked, with the lack of job security weighing on them heavily.
Workers reportedly attempted to unionize as well, in a drive to secure better contracts and working conditions for themselves as a collective. However, these attempts were met with resistance. The Google raters have now launched federal complaints against the employer, filing their allegations with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Google, for its part, has claimed that these contractors are not directly employed by Alphabet and, as such, “GlobalLogic and their subcontractors are responsible for the employment and working conditions of their employees.” The Google pay dispute complaints primarily stem from work done via GlobalLogic, which has a key role to play in the matter; however, the workers blame the tech giant as well for actions such as restricting virtual social spaces for the workers to communicate with each other.