The Humans Working Behind the AI Curtain

Just how artificial is Artificial Intelligence? Facebook created a PR firestorm last summer when reporters discovered a human "editorial team" – rather than just unbiased algorithms – selecting stories for its trending topics section. The revelation highlighted an elephant in the room of our tech world: companies selling the magical speed, omnipotence, and neutrality of artificial intelligence (AI) often can't make good on their promises without keeping people in the loop, often working invisibly in the background. So who are the people behind the AI curtain? Cut to Bangalore, India, and meet Kala, a middle-aged mother of two sitting in front of her computer in the makeshift home office that she shares with her husband.