The past decade has seen an exponential growth in gig work on platforms. AI plays a critical role in the way these gig platforms function. In this episode of #TheCCGTechPodcast, Aishwarya and Nidhi speak with Jane Loo and Nadia Dabee about the role AI plays in the gig economy. They look at how gig work differs from traditional work, models for worker rights, safety and discrimination, and the future of the gig economy on platforms. 

Jane Loo is a Senior Research Associate at Singapore Management University’s Centre of AI and Data Governance and Adjunct Faculty at the SMU Yong Pung How School of Law. She works at the intersection of AI and access to justice. Her current research focuses on the impact of the gig economy and comparative approaches to AI governance including Singapore’s AI governance approach versus the EU AI Act. 

Dr Nadia Dabee is a senior lecturer at the Business School, University of Auckland, where she teaches employment law and taxation law. She is also a teaching award recipient and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (United Kingdom). She pursues research in health & safety law and employment law with an aim of improving outcomes for workers.

Resources: 

• Computer program that won against a human - alpha go https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ais-victories-in-go-inspire-better-human-game-playing/
• Uber drivers in Sweden and agreement with Uber Sweden - https://www.business-humanrights.org/my/latest-news/sweden-uber-bolt-drivers-demand-pay-increase-recognition-of-union-in-first-ever-strike-incl-co-comments/
• EU (Germany, Spain) authorities classify some gig workers as employees - https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-deal-gig-workers-employees-drivers-contractors-employees-labor-rights/
• Singapore identifies platform workers as a new and distinct category of workers in Singapore - https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/platform-workers-bill-food-delivery-riders-ride-hailing-protections-parliament-4596531
• Australia has defined platform workers as a distinct category - https://theconversation.com/gig-workers-get-minimum-standards-from-monday-heres-what-will-change-237016#:~:text=The%20new%20law%20empowers%20the,ride%20share%20and%20personal%20carez
• EU Parliament regulation on gig work - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/can-eus-gig-worker-rules-tame-management-by-algorithm/articleshow/108543250.cms?from=mdr
• NZ regulation on the number of breaks a driver must have - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/uber-introduces-safety-feature-forcing-drivers-to-rest-follow-nzta-rules/HJP3KWTEYEV7SEYOISEPBXVYDI/

Hosts: Aishwarya Giridhar, Nidhi Singh

Editor: Gopika P

Fact Checker: Srija Naskar

This podcast is created by the ⁠Centre for Communication Governance⁠ at NLUD. Reach out for any queries / suggestions at ccgoutreach@nludelhi.ac.in 

(The opinions expressed in the episode are personal to the speaker. The University does not subscribe to the views expressed in the episode and does not take any responsibility for the same.)