UFC Sobral research targets AI ghost work

The automation of AI relies on millions of underpaid workers in the Global South, and this research provides a critical look at that reality in Brazil. Microtasks create a "sub-proletariat" of digital workers who lack legal protections and earn pennies per task. Platforms leverage algorithmic control to keep labor costs low and workers disposable. This study's focus on Brazil highlights the "ghost work" phenomenon—where human labor is deliberately hidden to maintain the illusion of seamless AI automation.