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Krystal Kauffman

@krystalkauffman.bsky.social

Activist * Former Lead Organizer - Turkopticon * Research Fellow - Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute * Rising Stars in AI Ethics 2024 * Tech Crunch Women in AI 2024 * All opinions are my own

21 Posts1860 Follower560 Folgt
Tech Policy Press@techpolicypress.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The AI boom runs on invisible labor, writes Krystal Kauffman, a research fellow with the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR). Underpaid workers in Kenya, the US, and beyond are unknowingly training intelligence systems. This isn't just an ethics problem—it's a consent problem, she says.

Done Data Work? You Might Have Worked With the US Military Without Knowing.

As data workers organize around the world, they need to push for change on what appears to be a major ethical oversight, writes Krystal Kauffman.

techpolicy.press

Krystal Kauffman@krystalkauffman.bsky.social · 6mo ago

New Inquiry!!! Have you ever found yourself trying to explain an issue to a chatbot, only to wish you could speak to a human? What if I told you the chatbot you were talking to was actually a human pretending to be a chatbot? Read Clara and B's short comic art the link below 👇

Data Workers’ Inquiry@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · 6mo ago

🚨NEW INQUIRY! - Behind the Face of AI🚨 In this short comic, two data workers describe their work impersonating an “AI” chatbot for a major social media platform. Sleepless nights, penalties for sounding “too human,” and emotional drain are just a few of the job hazards. ➡️ data-workers.org/france

Illustrated cover image titled “Behind the Face of AI,” showing a split face: one half is a tired human with a worried expression, the other half is a glowing robot face. The contrast suggests a human hidden behind an artificial intelligence persona, set against a blue comic-style background.
Data Workers’ Inquiry@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · last yr.

TikTok management wants to lay off over 160 workers in Berlin as easily and cheaply as possible. After the first meeting of the conciliation committee, employees could be DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY. www.heise.de/en/news/Berl...

Berlin: Tiktok-employees going on strike against massive job cuts

German Tiktok censors have trained an AI that is now taking their jobs. Verdi wants to talk, Tiktok doesn't. There was a warning strike on Wednesday.

heise.de

Milagros Miceli@milamiceli.bsky.social · last yr.

🚨NEW INQUIRY! @joan1k.bsky.social from @datalabelers.bsky.social discusses beginnings, gratitude, and partnerships in this piece. @dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social is an active partner of the DLA, and we remain united in the fight for the rights of data workers worldwide! data-workers.org/DLA/

Organizing Across Borders, by Joan Kinyua

The Data Labelers Association is developing mutual support structures and fighting for better working conditions. This inquiry recounts our path to founding it and acknowledges our ongoing partnership...

data-workers.org

Krystal Kauffman@krystalkauffman.bsky.social · last yr.

🚨New Inquiry!! Today, we present Kauna’s mental healthcare proposal tailored specifically to data workers - addressing PTSD, burnout, depression, and more. Her plan delivers a way forward for those affected and a call for change. data-workers.org/kauna/ #MentalHealthInTech #DataWorkersInquiry

A Mental Health Intervention for Data Workers, by Kauna Ibrahim Malgwi

A scalable mental health intervention designed for data workers, grounded in hands‑on insight and evidence‑based practice from my dual perspective as a former content moderator and a registered clinic...

data-workers.org

Data Workers’ Inquiry@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · last yr.

Wilington Shitawa is a former data worker and quality analyst who has worked at Cloud Factory and Sama in Nairobi, Kenya. Drawing from his personal experiences and interviews with fellow workers Andrea, Derrick, and Edwin, he created the comic „Click Captives: The Unseen Struggle of Data Workers“.

Wilington Shitawa, drawing from his personal experiences and interviews with fellow workers Andrea, Derrick, and Edwin, created the comic „Click Captives: The Unseen Struggle of Data Workers“.Wilington ShitawaBildBild
Data Workers’ Inquiry@dataworkersinquiry.bsky.social · last yr.

“Safe data work demands better pay, better working conditions, and a safe, supportive environment that helps workers deal with the emotional toll of the job.” Fasica Berhane Gebrekidan, data worker and DWI community researcher

BotPopuli@botpopuli.bsky.social · last yr.

Our second and third pieces chart new territory for DS, as we go straight to the source and get some powerful stories from #dataworkers themselves. botpopuli.net/the-algorith... botpopuli.net/dirty-laundr... #mayday #laborday

Krystal Kauffman@krystalkauffman.bsky.social · last yr.

Today I'm announcing my departure from Turkopticon, where I've been the lead organizer for the last few years. I'll be dedicating my time to research and advocacy with DAIR, pushing boundaries in ways that are personally and professionally fulfilling. Thanks to all who have supported me!

The Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute@dairinstitute.bsky.social · 2y ago

"Generative AI will always need humans"...says @krystalkauffman.bsky.social. Dylan Baker agrees: “It’s a well-crafted marketing strategy on the part of the platforms to claim that one day AI will no longer need humans.” voxeurop.eu/en/artificia...

Not-so-artificial intelligence: the human workers who power AI

Invisible, isolated from one another, and with little income security – such is the lot of data workers. And yet without them, there'd be no ChatGPT, Midjourney or Gemini.

voxeurop.eu

Marisa Kabas@marisakabas.bsky.social · 2y ago

NEW — OMB temporarily pauses all agency grants and loans programs. Per copy of memo: "The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve."

SUBJECT: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs 'The American people elected Donald J. Trump to be President of the United States and gave him a mandate to increase the impact of every federal taxpayer dollar. In Fiscal Year 2024. of the nearly $10 trillion that the Federal Government spent, more than $3 trillion was Federal financial assistance, such as grants and loans. Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities. Financial assistance should be dedicated to advancing Administration priorities, focusing taxpayer dollars to advance a stronger and safer America, eliminating the financial burden of inflation for citizens, unleashing American energy and manufacturing, ending wokeness" and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again. The use of Federal resources to advance Marxist equity, transgenderism, and green new deal social engineering policies is a waste of taxpayer dollars that does not improve the day-to-day lives of those we serve. This memorandum requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President's policies and requirements. For example, during the initial days of his Administration, President Donald J Trump issued a series of executive orders to protect the American people and safeguard valuable taxpayer resources, including Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025). Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (Jan 20, 2025), Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements (Jan. 20, 2025). Unleashing American Energy (Jan. 20. 2025). Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing (Jan. 20.ent these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all jal assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that any of the President's executive orders. In the interian, to the extent applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency nay be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial surice tot foreign nongovernmental organizations, DEL woke gender ideology, and the pause will provide the Administration time to review agency programs of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the he temporary pause will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00 rehensive analysis. Federal agencies must immediately deadlines for assistance programs arising while the les must report this information to OMB along with an directs Federal agencies to pause all activities associated conducting merit review panels No later than Febrar - 10. 2025, agencies shail submit to OMB detailed information on any programs projects or activities subject to this pause. Each agency must pause. (i) issuance of disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards, and (il) other relevant has reviewed provided guidance to your agency with respect to the information act recordin grant and ptions allowing Federal agencies to issue new awards or take other case basis. To the extent required by law, Federal agencies may continue nistrative actions. such as closeout of Federal awards (2 CFR 200.344), or expressly required by law