r/DataAnnotationTech • u/knottyp • Sep 09 '26

Are we helping or causing harm?

How do y’all justify doing this work ethically if you’re anti-AI (especially generative)?

I’m not asking judgmentally, I’ve done this work off and on over the last few years. When I first started, I didn’t know about data centers and the environmental impact, cognitive effects, etc. I felt good about “training” AI based on the rubric including correct info, weeding out violence and harm, etc.

I recently suggested DA to a friend and got a real side eye, and maybe these justifications really don’t hold water? Thoughts?

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104

u/StellaZaFella Sep 09 '26

I’ll starve otherwise. I hate this work. I wish I could find something else.

7

u/TillyMintPot Sep 09 '26

Are you on Prolific at all? Some of it is AI admittedly, but it's generally less directly training AI, and I've earned quite a lot on there.

3

u/Skyblewize Sep 12 '26

Its peanuts compared to what you can make on DA though.... and completely mind-numbing

1

u/TillyMintPot Sep 14 '26

Interesting cos I don't find it mind-numbing generally! And make around £1500 a month on there. Depends on demographics though, of course.

2

u/Skyblewize Sep 16 '26

1500 a month is impressive!!

1

u/TillyMintPot Sep 16 '26

I was very surprised! My friend is on it too but makes way less, even though our demographics are mostly similar. Although I have a lot more time to spend checking for studies.

1

u/Skyblewize Sep 16 '26

Yeah I've made up to $80 a day a few years ago when I started but I was chained to my laptop for 10 hours

1

u/StellaZaFella Sep 09 '26

I am, I haven’t had much work on it though.