Google recently laid off contractors from the outsourcing company GlobalLogic, with over 200 employees being fired due to issues with pay and working conditions. This action has caused dissatisfaction and protests among employees, who pointed out long-standing problems of low wages and poor working environments, leading to escalating conflicts.

The laid-off contractors mainly worked on evaluating and improving Google's AI products, including the newly launched Gemini chatbot and its AI summary features. These employees typically improved product performance by assessing and editing AI-generated content. However, the layoffs caught many of them by surprise, as they were not given sufficient explanation or warning when they were informed of the layoffs.

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One former employee, Andrew Lauzon, said he joined GlobalLogic in March 2024, and his work included evaluating AI outputs and creating input prompts for models. He was shocked by the sudden layoff and felt anxious about his future employment.

Employees who continued working also expressed uncertainty about the future. They are worried that the company is planning to use AI automation for evaluations, replacing human jobs. Meanwhile, despite hiring new employees, the company is reducing the number of existing employees. This situation is particularly evident at the Austin office in Texas, where many employees were asked to return to the office, adding extra pressure for those who cannot afford commuting costs or have health issues.

Many contractors stated that their salaries were low and working conditions were not ideal, leading to a drop in morale. Despite many employees holding master's or doctoral degrees, their pay did not match the workload and complexity of their tasks. In efforts to organize a union to fight for better treatment, some employees even faced retaliation, and some filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

A Google spokesperson responded that GlobalLogic and its subcontractors are responsible for employee hiring and working conditions, and Google will audit its suppliers. Nevertheless, employees still feel the oppressive work environment and limited social spaces, which increase work pressure.

This incident highlights the contradictions in working conditions at Google and its outsourcing companies, reflecting common challenges and struggles faced by many AI contractors.

Key points:

🚨 Over 200 Google AI product evaluation contractors were laid off due to disputes over pay and working conditions.

🤖 GlobalLogic is planning to replace human evaluators with AI while cutting existing employees despite hiring new ones.

⚖️ Employees organizing unions to seek better treatment face suppression, making the work environment increasingly tense.