The research project TRIA (from its French title “Le TRavail de l’IA: éthique et gouvernance de l’automation”) is a study of the production systems of artificial intelligence. We investigate “micro-work” platforms, which allocate small standardized tasks to crowds of providers, and use the outputs of their work to prepare and annotate data for machine learning algorithms. We study the ramifications of this phenomenon in Spanish-speaking countries, which have remained under-researched so far despite their strong participation. With data from an empirical survey already started in 2020, and to be analyzed through mixed methods (including advanced NLP techniques), we will address important issues related to digital platform governance, online work ethics, and consequences (e.g. in terms of bias) of the use of these humans in the production of artificial intelligence.
Funded by the French National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), the TRIA project resembles research teams in the Paris and Rennes regions in France, as well as partners in Spain (Barcelona and Valencia) and Canada (Toronto).
We are currently looking for a student intern to help us set up a survey targeting micro-workers in Spain and Spanish-speaking Latin American countries.
He/she will help us to :
- update an inventory of micro-work platforms operating in Spanish-speaking countries, a first version of which was created in 2020;
- launch a replication of the online questionnaire, already fielded on Microworkers.com, on another micro-work platform;
- to liaise and ensure communication between the project teams.
The applicant should :
- be enrolled in the first or second year of a master’s degree in social science (like sociology, political science, management or economics) ;
- have skills in the design and/or execution of questionnaire surveys;
- have some prior knowledge of, or at least interest in, the transformations of work and/or the societal effects of digital technology;
- be able to work independently, with advanced relational skills;
- have a fairly good command of French or English, and at least a basic knowledge of Spanish.
More information is available in the enclosed job description.
Data Big and Small 