Where does AI come from? A global case study across Europe, Africa, and Latin America

Paola Tubaro (), Antonio Casilli (), Maxime Cornet (), Clément Le Ludec and Juana Torres Cierpe
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Paola Tubaro: CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Antonio Casilli: NOS - Numérique, Organisation et Société - I3 SES - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation de Telecom Paris - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SES - Département Sciences Economiques et Sociales - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Maxime Cornet: NOS - Numérique, Organisation et Société - I3 SES - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation de Telecom Paris - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SES - Département Sciences Economiques et Sociales - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Clément Le Ludec: CERSA - Centre d'Études et de Recherches de Sciences Administratives et Politiques - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Institut Cujas - Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, NOS - Numérique, Organisation et Société - I3 SES - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation de Telecom Paris - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, SES - Département Sciences Economiques et Sociales - Télécom Paris - IMT - Institut Mines-Télécom [Paris] - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Juana Torres Cierpe: Inria Siège - Inria - Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique

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Abstract: This article examines the organisational and geographical forces that shape the supply chains of artificial intelligence (AI) through outsourced and offshored data work. Bridging sociological theories of relational inequalities and embeddedness with critical approaches to Global Value Chains, we conduct a global case study of the digitally enabled organisation of data work in France, Madagascar, and Venezuela. The AI supply chains procure data work via a mix of arm's length contracts through marketplace-like platforms, and of embedded firm-like structures that offer greater stability but less flexibility, with multiple intermediate arrangements. Each solution suits specific types and purposes of data work in AI preparation, verification, and impersonation. While all forms reproduce well-known patterns of exclusion that harm externalised workers especially in the Global South, disadvantage manifests unevenly in different supply chain structures, with repercussions on remunerations, job security and working conditions. Unveiling these processes of contemporary technology development provides insights into possible policy implications.

Keywords: Data work; Artificial intelligence; Outsourcing; Offshoring; Embeddedness; Supply chains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://inria.hal.science/hal-04933816v1
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Published in New Political Economy, 2025, pp.1-14. ⟨10.1080/13563467.2025.2462137⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04933816

DOI: 10.1080/13563467.2025.2462137

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