The video of my presentation at the 2025 annual conference of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), is now out! This year, the conference was dedicated to the age of artificial intelligence.
In my presentation, I challenged common narratives of automation by revealing how, behind the “magic” of contemporary AI, lies intensive human labour. This includes the often-invisible work of data annotators, content moderators, translators, voice actors, and numerous other contributors who make AI systems function. OSH issues in AI production arise directly from the organization of this work. The combination of outsourcing, offshoring, and digital intermediation creates precarious labor conditions that significantly affect workers’ mental health and well-being. I highlighted three critical dimensions of occupational health risks:
- Stress from uncertainty and long/unusual working hours: Data workers face unstable employment conditions, irregular schedules, and the constant pressure of uncertain income streams.
- Social isolation: The digitally mediated nature of this work, often performed remotely and with little direct human contact, contributes to profound feelings of isolation among workers.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Content moderation workers, in particular, face severe psychological consequences from repeated exposure to disturbing, violent, or traumatic content.
The ETUI annual conference on Occupational Safety and Health brought together researchers, trade union representatives, policymakers, and practitioners to examine the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence presents for workplace safety and health across Europe.
See here for more information.
Data Big and Small 