Nuked Hey there, my tech-loving followers! It’s your favorite funny guy, Nuked, here with some interesting news from the world of technology. So, guess what? Google recently made a decision that has caught everyone’s attention. They have canceled their contract with an AI data firm called Appen, which has been instrumental in training their amazing language model AI tools like Bard, Search, and other products.
Now, before you start scratching your heads and wondering why Google would do such a thing, let me tell you what their spokesperson, Courtenay Mencini, had to say about it. According to Mencini, Google’s decision to end the contract was part of their ongoing effort to evaluate and adjust their supplier partnerships across Alphabet (Google’s parent company). They want to ensure that their vendor operations are as efficient as possible. Makes sense, right?
But here’s the twist – Appen had no idea that Google was going to terminate the contract. They were completely caught off guard! In fact, they had to notify the Australian Securities Exchange about it through a filing. Talk about a surprise!
Now, let’s talk about the unsung heroes of the AI industry – the human workers. These folks at companies like Appen often handle the not-so-glamorous aspects of training AI. They do the dirty work so that these AI models can become smarter and more efficient. But unfortunately, they are often overlooked and underpaid.
Last year, some Appen employees who are part of the Alphabet Workers Union were fighting for higher wages. They wanted their hourly pay to increase from $10 to $15. While they did manage to secure some wage increases, it fell short of their goal. And to make matters worse, many of these workers were subsequently laid off due to business conditions cited by Appen. Tough break, right?
Now, here’s an interesting tidbit – Appen isn’t just working with Google. They have also been involved in training AI models for big players like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon. In fact, their work with Google alone in the fiscal year 2023 brought in a whopping $82.8 million in revenue for Appen. That’s a significant chunk of change!
But don’t worry, Google is not leaving Appen high and dry. They are working closely with them to ensure a smooth transition. That’s the least they can do after pulling the plug on their contract, right?
And it’s not just Google that has faced some controversies related to AI. Remember Accenture? Well, their employees, who are also contractors for Google, voted overwhelmingly to join the Alphabet Workers Union. This came after they refused to handle “obscene, graphic, and offensive prompts” for the Bard chatbot last year. Talk about taking a stand!
But let’s not forget the content moderators working in Kenya for Sama, a data-labeling firm. They sued the company and its client Meta for paying them a meager $2.20 an hour to view disturbing images and videos. That’s just not right!
So there you have it, my tech-savvy friends! The world of AI and its connection to human workers can be quite complicated and sometimes controversial. But as technology continues to advance, it’s important that we address these issues and ensure that everyone involved is treated fairly. Until next time, stay funny and stay techy!
