AI Data-Labeling Paving the Way for Economic, Social, and Digital inclusion

Laura Oller, Co-Founder of DignifAI and Henrique Sanchez, DignifAI Project Supervisor for Brazil, describe how their organisation is changing minds in Brazil on migration and offering migrants and local residents’ new opportunities in the technology field.

When Luisana crossed the Venezuelan border and arrived in Brazil, she joined the now over 15 million of people unemployed. One of them was Jarlene, a Brazilian woman who stopped working when she had a baby and was never able to find a job again. Both live in Brazil’s northern border with Venezuela and are now taking part in a blended learning on Artificial Intelligence (AI) data-labeling with a a small company called DignifAI. 

Contrary to what one may think, AI does not mean that tomorrow machines will replace humans. In the value chain of AI, humans are very much needed. As the saying goes, “garbage in, garbage out”; the quality of AI solutions will always be as good as the quality of the data imputed.

The AI ​​data annotation and preparation market is already over USD 1 billion and expected to reach over USD 4 billion in the next five years. In addition to generating better solutions for consumers and good business for companies, this growth in the artificial intelligence market is also an opportunity for people in situations of vulnerability to integrate into the digital economy, develop new skills, and access income.

Restoring dignity to migrants and local residents

Through DignifAI our migrant and local participants in Brazil have been introduced to the online freelancing market, are learning new digital skills, and are applying these skills to access new income streams. Their work with DignifAI consists of labeling data to train AI Computer Vision and NLP models.

Beyond the development of digital skills to enhance professional development, this blended learning experience supports participants in developing as well soft skills, such as the confidence necessary to seek new challenges and opportunities. This has been well described by Fernanda, a Brazilian undergraduate student in Social Work: “We women know that there is a strength within us, but we do not know that strength 100%. We all needed that push to remind us that we can do more, and the DignifAI experience gave me that.”

Acting in a network, with diverse local and international partners, DignifAI strives to unlock a hybrid model in which people can work from home, but also benefit from safe spaces where participants can bring their children, and connect with peers and instructors, to work and study. For the second, we open the space for other organisations to come in and join efforts to promote local integration, gender equality, and entrepreneurship. We have seen how powerful these shared spaced can be to dismantle old prejudices, break down barriers and promote social integration.

Making digital work accessible to all

Much more than an innovative business opportunity, we believe it is a moral imperative to democratize access to digital work, and to create opportunities for people in vulnerable situations to break the cycle of poverty and be part of the Fourth industrial revolution. There are more than 3.6 million people aged 16-30 in Latin America experiencing forced displacement, the vast majority of whom are unemployed or underemployed. No one should be left behind, and that is why DignifAI exists.

Website : www.dignifai.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/dignifai/