Paola Tubaro, CNRS Research Director at CREST, recently participated in the Nuit des Idées (Night of Ideas) held at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. This international event, organized by the Institut français d’Argentine and its partners, brings together thinkers, artists, and researchers to engage in public discussions on contemporary challenges.

During the event, Tubaro spoke about the often-overlooked human labor behind artificial intelligence systems. She emphasized the critical role of micro-workers who perform essential tasks such as data labeling and content moderation, enabling AI technologies to function effectively. Tubaro highlighted the precarious conditions these workers often face, including low wages, invisibility, and a lack of rights or recognition.

In a follow-up interview with Clarín, one of Argentina’s leading newspapers, she delved deeper into the topic. She described these workers as “neo-laborers of the algorithm,” performing countless “microtasks” for platforms like Amazon Mechanical Turk—often during their free time, with few protections and little public awareness of their role. Tubaro called for greater transparency, fairer conditions, and the ethical recognition of their contribution to technological progress.

Her reflections contribute to a broader understanding of the social and economic infrastructures behind AI systems, urging policymakers and the public to account for the real human costs behind digital automation.