Generative AI changes offshore gig market

Outsourced artists, designers, copywriters, software developers, and call centre operators in the global south are the first to feel the effects of the arrival of generative AI, as client companies see the new technology as a way of cutting costs. Some workers are adding prompt engineering to their advertised skillsets or offer a service copy-editing and fact-checking AI-generated output; others say that using AI tools helps them produce more work faster, albeit for less money. Outsourcing companies such as Teleperformance estimate that using ChatGPT can shorten each customer call by almot 40% and handle 20% to 30% of call volume, putting front line call centre workers' jobs at risk. Even if companies don't use AI, the threat that they will can be used to force workers to accept pay cuts.

https://restofworld.org/2023/ai-revolution-outsourced-workers/

Publication: Rest of World

Publication date: 2023-07-11

Writer: Andrew Deck