The use of platforms for training artificial intelligence (AI) systems and outsourcing various tasks has become crucial for AI companies and other organizations. OpenAI, for example, relies on Scale AI and Remotasks to label data for their apps, while social networks use such platforms for content moderation. Universities, businesses, and NGOs also utilize these platforms to hire translators, graphic designers, and IT experts. These cloudwork platforms have created earning opportunities for over 163 million people, with Freelancer. com alone boasting a registered user base of more than 67 million workers. However, while these platforms offer affordable and skilled labor, the situation for workers can be challenging. They often spend unpaid time searching for jobs, face the risk of earning below minimum wage, and lack clear mechanisms for dispute resolution, which puts their pay at further risk. The Fairwork project, based at the University of Oxford, evaluated 15 cloudwork platforms and found that none of them met more than half of the basic standards of fair work. Popular platforms like Fiverr and Freelancer. com received low scores, indicating a lack of decent work standards. Smaller task-focused platforms, such as Appen, Clickworker, Scale/Remotasks, Microworkers, and Amazon Mechanical Turk, scored even lower. On average, workers earned a meager $2. 15 USD for their time spent working on these platforms.

These results highlight the failure of many platforms to uphold fundamental workers' rights and protections. Additionally, the international nature of the industry allows cloudwork platforms to circumvent labor regulations, leaving workers vulnerable. The spread of this model, accelerated by AI companies and the growing trend of remote work, raises concerns. Some platforms involved in the study made certain improvements, such as implementing a minimum wage floor. However, lasting solutions require regulations that ensure labor standards are met across the industry. International organizations like the International Labour Organization are discussing the development of standards to protect workers' rights in the digital economy. However, the involvement of national governments is also crucial. Presently, discussions around regulating the platform economy primarily focus on sectors like food delivery and ride-hailing, neglecting the unique challenges faced by online remote workers. It is vital for policymakers and regulators to address the issues concerning this hidden but substantial workforce with the same urgency and effort.