Refugees in Kenya face dwindling pay and job instability as AI automates entry-level tech work

Refugees in Kenya’s Kakuma camp, who have long relied on digital microwork like data annotation and transcription, are facing a severe economic downturn. As AI tools such as ChatGPT automate entry-level tasks, opportunities for these workers are rapidly disappearing. Companies are increasingly replacing guaranteed wages with opaque 'discretionary rewards,' forcing refugees to compete for dwindling gigs in a race to the bottom. Advocates and researchers note that while tech giants build powerful models on the backs of these 'invisible architects,' the workers themselves are left with precarious incomes and little transparency. Organizations are now shifting training toward higher-skilled roles like software engineering to combat automation risks, but many refugees remain vulnerable. Experts argue that the industry requires stronger labor protections and transparency to prevent the exploitation of marginalized workers who are foundational to the global AI supply chain.