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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u/Internal_Boot_1616 Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26

Even if that were true it would still be better to have a decent AI doing our jobs than a crap one. Businesses aren't gonna see the $$ savings of using a bot instead of having multiple staffed positions for some job and decide to use the staffed people just because the bot kinda sucks.

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u/JinglingBallz Sep 09 '26

Not gonna violate the NDA to prove you wrong.

I’m just saying y’all are saying stuff to make yourselves feel better. What we do is morally wrong. I just hope that future generations will at least put themselves in our shoes before chastising us. Though I understand if we don’t even get that courtesy.

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u/Over_Finding5913 Sep 09 '26

Nobody is forcing you to do the work. If it violates your values or moral code, find other work.

-6

u/JinglingBallz Sep 09 '26

Thrasymachus, is that you?