By Anthony Joseph

The allure of artificial intelligence (AI) promises groundbreaking advances in efficiency, productivity, and innovation. From autonomous vehicles to medical diagnostics, AI is hailed as humanity’s next great frontier. Yet, beneath the shiny veneer of progress lies a troubling and persistent truth: the exploitation of human labour in the developing world. The rise of AI has birthed a new underclass of workers, aptly referred to as “humans in the loop,” whose toil and suffering are the unseen scaffolding upon which these technological marvels are built. This is modern capitalism’s latest iteration of economic subjugation, one that must end if we are to uphold principles of equity and justice.

The new digital sweatshops across nations like Kenya, India, the Philippines, and Venezuela engage millions of workers in data labeling—a labor-intensive process essential to training AI algorithms. These individuals, often well-educated but mired in unemployment, spend hours tagging objects in videos and photos, teaching AI systems to recognize patterns and functions that mimic human cognition. Their labour underpins the capabilities of AI giants like Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google.

In Nairobi, Kenya, Naftali Wambalo—a father of two and a mathematics graduate—found employment labeling data for autonomous vehicles, medical diagnostics, and facial recognition systems. While this work is often marketed as a “ticket to the future,” reality paints a starkly different picture. Workers endure long, grueling hours, earning as little as $2 per hour for tasks outsourced by tech giants through intermediary firms. This paltry compensation pales in comparison to the billions these corporations amass annually, cementing the exploitative relationship between tech’s wealthiest and the world’s most vulnerable.

“Honestly, it’s like modern-day slavery,” says Narima Wako Ojiwa, a Kenyan civil rights activist. The conditions in these so-called AI sweatshops resemble those of historical systems of oppression. Workers face unrealistic deadlines, constant surveillance, and punitive environments where even minor errors can result in termination. Contracts are typically short-term—some lasting mere days—and job security is non-existent. The workspaces are dehumanizing, the jobs emotionally draining, and the wages insultingly low.

Adding to the indignity is the nature of the tasks. Workers like Naftali often sift through graphic and disturbing content to train AI systems designed to moderate harmful material online. This includes exposure to images of extreme violence, sexual abuse, and other grotesque scenes, leaving workers with long-term psychological scars. Despite promises of mental health support, many workers report inadequate or superficial counseling. They are left to grapple with trauma on their own, isolated and stigmatized.

The exploitation of AI labourers is symptomatic of a broader trend in global capitalism that preys on the desperation of developing nations. With youth unemployment rates in Kenya exceeding 60%, governments are eager to court foreign investment, offering tax breaks and lax labour laws to attract multinational corporations. President William Ruto’s administration, for instance, touts Kenya as the “Silicon Savannah,” promoting tech jobs as a solution to the nation’s economic woes. However, these jobs—low-wage, precarious, and harmful—fail to deliver on their promise of prosperity.

Tech companies employ middleman firms, to insulate themselves from accountability. These firms pay workers a fraction of what the corporations are charged, pocketing the difference while shielding tech giants from legal and reputational risks. The system is designed to maximize profit at the expense of the labourer—a hallmark of modern capitalism that exploits structural inequalities between the Global North and the Global South.

Capitalism thrives on the principle of perpetual growth, often disregarding the human and environmental costs involved. In this case, the AI industry’s voracious appetite for data and labour perpetuates cycles of exploitation. The narrative of technological advancement obscures the suffering of those at its foundation. While the Global North reaps the rewards of AI-driven innovation, the Global South bears the brunt of its costs.

The parallels to historical systems of exploitation are glaring. Just as colonial powers extracted raw materials and labour from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America to fuel their industrial revolutions, today’s tech giants extract digital labour to sustain their AI empires. This digital colonialism perpetuates economic dependency, leaving countries like Kenya trapped in a cycle of low-wage labor with no path to upward mobility.

Ending this modern-day slavery requires a concerted effort from multiple stakeholders. Governments in developing nations must resist the temptation to prioritize foreign investment over labour rights. Updating labour laws to address digital work, enforcing fair wage standards, and providing robust protections for workers are critical first steps. For Kenya and similar nations, the challenge lies in balancing the need for jobs with the imperative of ensuring those jobs are dignified and sustainable.

Equally important is holding tech giants accountable. Companies like Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft must be transparent about their labour practices and commit to fair compensation, humane working conditions, and comprehensive mental health support for their workers. Outsourcing firms that exploit laborers must be regulated or dismantled entirely.

Consumers, too, have a role to play. By demanding ethical practices from the companies whose products we use, we can push for systemic change. Just as movements for fair trade and sustainable sourcing have reshaped industries like agriculture and fashion, a similar movement for ethical AI labor could drive accountability in the tech sector.

The exploitation of AI labourers in developing nations is not an isolated issue. It is emblematic of a global economic system that prioritizes profit over people. As we marvel at the advancements of AI, we must not forget the human cost of these technologies. The invisible labour of millions underpins the digital conveniences we take for granted. It is incumbent upon us to demand a fairer, more just system that values human dignity above corporate profit.

The question is not whether capitalism can coexist with ethics but whether we have the will to insist that it must. By confronting the inequalities perpetuated by AI’s labour pipeline, we can begin to dismantle the structures of exploitation and build a future where innovation uplifts everyone—not just the privileged few.

This story highlights the exploitation behind artificial intelligence and the need for ethical labor practices, making hashtags like #DigitalSlavery, #AIExploitation, #EthicalAI, #TechJustice, #GlobalEquality, #LaborRights, #AIForGood, #DigitalColonialism, #FairWages, #HumanDignity, #SocialJustice, #EndExploitation, #AIInnovation, and #TechAccountability ideal for reaching audiences concerned with technology ethics, labor rights, and global equity. These hashtags connect the conversation to broader movements for justice, ensuring the story reaches activists, technologists, and socially-conscious communities.

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