In urban gig economies around the world, platform labour is predominantly migrant labour, yet research on intersection of economy and migration remains scant. Our experience with two action projects, spanning six cities four continents, has taught us how work impacts structural vulnerability workers. This leads to claims that should recalibrate agenda. First, we argue simultaneously degrades working conditions while offering migrants much-needed opportunities improve their livelihoods....

Critical scholars contend that ‘There is no AI without Big Tech’. This study delves into the substantial role played by major technology conglomerates, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google (Alphabet), in ‘industrialisation of artificial intelligence’. concept encapsulates shift technologies from research development stage to practical, real-world applications across diverse industry sectors, resulting new dependencies associated investments. We employ term ‘Big AI’ encapsulate structural...

Digital labour platforms do not attempt to build trust between worker, client, and platform on the basis of strong durable ties. Instead, utilize a double articulation algorithmic power govern spatially dispersed workforces in both material discursive ways. However, algorithms have hegemonic outcomes, they entirely strip away agency from workers. Through manipulation, subversion, disruption, workers bring fissures into being. Fissures are moments which as intended. While these simply result...

In urban gig economies around the world, platform labour is predominantly migrant labour. Yet academic literature on intersection of economy and migration remains scant. Our experience with two action research projects, spanning six cities four continents, has taught us how work impacts structural vulnerability workers. This leads to claims that should recalibrate agenda. First, we argue simultaneously degrades working conditions while offering migrants much-needed opportunities improve...

Platformized cultural production is in flux. Artificial intelligence often seen as a key driving force of this shift. This article examines the proliferation AI-generated media to introduce new concept theorize production: hyperproduction. notion designates penetration life with deep generative models. Juxtaposing two empirical use cases–autonomous vehicles and virtual influencers—the problematises convergence simulation reality through lens video game engines. Although those case studies...

Abstract This paper applies insights from global value chains (GVC)/global production networks (GPN) frameworks to explore the economic geographies brought into being by digital labour platforms. In particular, these perspectives facilitate analyses of power imbalances and extraction across territories—an under‐theorized aspect within platform studies. We theorize this dynamic introducing descriptor ‘digital network’ (DVN): a digitally mediated nexus operations that produce distribute...

Abstract Production in knowledge and data‐intensive industries is powered by work that can, theory, be done from anywhere, via cloudwork platforms. Cloudwork platforms govern data value chains distinct ways to concentrate power extract at the global scale. We argue unpaid labour a systemic mechanism of accumulation these digital networks. In this paper we demonstrate how it tied platform business models facilitated elements governance including monopsony power, high degree spatial...

It is commonly argued that a handful of technology firms own the infrastructure underpins proliferation artificial neural networks. But little known about how this concentration computational resources manifests itself in new geographies production. To address disparity, article introduces theoretical framework production networks: geographically dispersed but computationally enveloped arrangements powered by The substantiates probing role Amazon, Google and Microsoft as lead By...

In a world increasingly shaped by generative AI systems like ChatGPT, the absence of benchmarks to examine efficacy oversight mechanisms is problem for research and policy. What are structural conditions governing systems? To answer this question, it crucial situate as regulatory objects: material items that can be governed. On conceptual basis, we introduce three high-level structure policy agendas on governance: industrial observability, public inspectability, technical modifiability....

Abstract Digital labour platforms have been widely promoted as a solution to the unemployment crisis sparked by COVID‐19 pandemic. However, pandemic has also highlighted vulnerability of gig workers when cast essential workers. This article examines policies 191 in 43 countries understand how shifted conventions economy. Using typology “fair platform work”, authors identify areas progress worker protection but significant shortfalls, including entrenchment precarious work leverage...

Platform governance scholarship commonly derives the role of state from its actions as a regulator platforms: rule-setter that sets limits and restricts their activities. This article argues three additional roles enable constrain agency states to regulate facilitator, buyer, producer. Using EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act case study, asks: How do different in platform shape AI’s regulatory geographies? It answers this research question by outlining two policy dilemmas between those four...

Abstract The Fairwork Project is an international action-research project that currently operates in over 20 countries. focuses on working conditions the platform economy, order to develop ‘fairness ratings’ for digital labour platforms. With respect Germany, evaluated offered by ten platforms, scoring them against principles and producing a national league table. We found even highly regulated market context like German one, workers experience precarity insecurity have limited access...

In the German public debate, platform work and crowdwork have become epitome of dark side digital transformation working world. Although Germany is marked by a high density labour regulations, those do not necessarily translate into/create fair conditions for workers in country. At first glance, historical legacy strong social partnership between employers' workers' organisations restrictiveness law mean present powerful regulatory tools to thwart precarity strengthen rights economy....

Plataformas digitais de trabalho não tentam construir relações fortes e confiança entre trabalhadores, clientes plataforma. Em vez disso, as plataformas utilizam uma dupla articulação do poder algorítmico para governar forças espacialmente dispersas em sentidos materiais discursivos. Entretanto, os algoritmos têm resultados hegemônicos retiram totalmente a agência dos trabalhadores das plataformas. Por meio manipulação, subversão ruptura, trazem fissuras desse sua ação. As no são momentos...

This panel brings together scholars whose work seeks to tame platform capitalism understanding how the lives of workers are affected by digital platforms. Research on labor has been mostly done in global north, as well relation platforms like Uber or Amazon (Rosenblat 2019; Scholz 2016). Thus, panelists, moreover, explore can be improved within economy analyzing workers’ subjectivities and impact technologies job quality. To achieve this, this from north south countries that will map...

Cloud infrastructure platforms underpin most of today’s internet, functioning as the operating system internet and representing important source revenue for Big Tech companies. While current hype around (“generative”) AI is focused on specific successful products initiatives like OpenAI (ChatGPT, DALL·E 2) Stability (Stable Diffusion), they would not have been possible without significant infrastructural support investments from This paper critically examines what we call AI, or those types...

Résumé Les plateformes de travail numériques ont souvent été présentées comme une solution au chômage engendré par la pandémie. Cependant, crise a mis en lumière vulnérabilité des collaborateurs plateformes, notamment travailleurs essentiels parmi eux. auteurs examinent le comportement 191 plate‐formes 43 pays pendant pandémie pour savoir si celle‐ci fait évoluer branche. Sur base critères relatifs à l'équité travail, ils repèrent certains progrès mais aussi lacunes importantes matière...

Resumen Las plataformas digitales de trabajo se promueven a gran escala como solución la crisis desempleo provocada por pandemia COVID‐19. Sin embargo, también ha puesto manifiesto vulnerabilidad quienes trabajan en ellas tareas consideradas esenciales. Se examinan aquí las políticas COVID‐19 191 43 países para entender cómo cambiado convenciones economía plataformas. Utilizando una tipología «trabajo plataforma justo», identifican avances protección y los trabajadores, pero problemas...