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Full Title
SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO
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Publisher
FrancoAngeli
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ISSN
0392-5048 (Printed Journal)
1972-554X (Online Journal)
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Journal Issue Number
163
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Journal Issue Designation
163
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Journal Issue Date
2022
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Full Title
Learners in the loop: hidden human skills in machine intelligence
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By (author)
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First Page
110
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Last Page
129
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Language of text
English
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Publication Date
2022/08
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Copyright
2022 FrancoAngeli srl
Introduction or preface
Today's artificial intelligence, largely based on data-intensive machine learning algorithms, relies heavily on the digital labour of invisibilized and precarized humans-in-the-loop who perform multiple functions of data preparation, verification of results, and even impersonation when algorithms fail. Using original quantitative and qualitative data, the present article shows that these workers are highly educated, engage significant (sometimes advanced) skills in their activity, and earnestly learn alongside machines. However, the loop is one in which human workers are at a disadvantage as they experience systematic misrecognition of the value of their competencies and of their contributions to technology, the economy, and ultimately society. This situation hinders negotiations with companies, shifts power away from workers, and challenges the traditional balancing role of the salary institution.
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