African gig workers unknowingly train AI for US military operations, investigation finds

Summary

An investigation reveals that African gig workers on platforms like Appen have been unknowingly training AI systems for the US military, including labeling surveillance data used in drone operations and intelligence missions. Workers in Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations were paid low wages to label images, transcribe audio, and process data for military AI projects without being informed about the nature of their work. The article highlights ethical concerns about opaque supply chains in AI development, the exploitation of cheap labor in the Global South, and the lack of informed consent from workers whose labor supports military operations.