Food delivery riders call on platforms to open up AI ‘black box’ they say has cut pay
Summary
Food delivery riders in Edinburgh say their pay and work conditions have gotten worse as companies like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat use more AI to decide jobs and pay. A group called the Workers’ Observatory is trying to understand how these computer systems set pay and help riders challenge poor conditions.Key Facts
- Delivery riders report making less money now than four years ago for the same hours.
- In the UK and Ireland, major delivery platforms have increased their use of automated systems and AI algorithms.
- The Workers’ Observatory, run by riders and university researchers, studies how these algorithms affect pay and job offers.
- Dynamic pricing algorithms adjust pay based on supply and demand but cause uncertainty for riders.
- A 2023 study found Uber drivers earned significantly less an hour after the introduction of dynamic pricing.
- Drivers in several countries have filed a large lawsuit against Uber, claiming the AI system unfairly lowers pay and violates data laws.
- Uber says it does not change pay based on individual driver behavior and points to other reasons for pay differences.
- The Workers’ Observatory wants delivery platforms to be more open about how their AI systems work, as many details are hidden from riders.
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