In a compelling 60 Minutes segment, journalist Lesley Stahl delved into the hidden labor force behind artificial intelligence (AI): the “humans in the loop.” While popular narratives suggest that AI will replace human jobs, this report unveils a contrasting reality—AI depends on millions of human workers worldwide to function and improve.
These workers, like Naftali Wambalo from Nairobi, Kenya, are responsible for “teaching” AI systems by tagging, labeling, and annotating vast amounts of data. From marking pedestrians in videos for self-driving cars to identifying facial features to train recognition software, their work is foundational. As Wambalo explains:
“The robots or the machines, you are teaching them how to think like human, to do things like human.”
Opportunities or Exploitation?
Kenya, with its high youth unemployment rate—reported to be as high as 67%—has become a hub for this industry, attracting tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and Google. Dubbed “Silicon Savannah,” Kenya promotes itself as a digitally connected nation offering job opportunities in emerging fields like AI. However, civil rights activist Nerima Wako-Ojiwa critiques these roles, likening them to modern-day sweatshops:
“Honestly, it’s like modern-day slavery. Because it’s cheap labor… The contracts are very short-term, and the pay is peanuts.”
Workers are often overqualified and underpaid, with little to no job security. According to Wako-Ojiwa, tech companies exploit the large, desperate workforce, offering subpar conditions while reaping significant profits.
Global Dependence on Low-Wage Labor
This phenomenon is not unique to Kenya. Similar operations are found in countries like India, the Philippines, and Venezuela, where educated but unemployed populations provide cheap labor for AI companies. Despite AI’s increasing sophistication, the report suggests that “humans in the loop” will remain integral as technology evolves and requires continuous refinement.
A Question of Ethics
The report raises critical questions about global inequality, corporate responsibility, and the ethics of outsourcing labor. While these jobs provide some economic relief, they often come at the cost of fair wages and humane working conditions.
To watch the full segment and explore this issue further, visit 60 Minutes.
This piece connects to Mobanle’s mission to shed light on the intersections of technology, culture, and economics within the global Black community. For more stories like this, explore our site.
