Hundreds of Google AI contractors employed through outsourcing firm GlobalLogic were laid off amid growing labor unrest. The workers — many holding advanced degrees — evaluated and refined products including Google’s Gemini chatbot and AI Overviews search summaries. They allege low pay, poor job security, and retaliation for organizing efforts linked to the Alphabet Workers Union. Two former contractors have filed National Labor Relations Board complaints. Google distanced itself, stating GlobalLogic is the legal employer. Separately, Penske Media Corporation, publisher of Variety and Rolling Stone, sued Google alleging unauthorized use of its content in AI Overviews.
In-Depth:
The cuts affected contractors employed through GlobalLogic, an outsourcing firm, who were responsible for evaluating and refining products including Google’s Gemini chatbot and its AI Overviews search summaries, according to workers and company documents reviewed by Wired.
Their work included reviewing AI-generated responses, rewriting them for accuracy and clarity and providing feedback to improve the systems.
Many of the workers hold master’s degrees or doctorates and declared they faced low pay, little job security and escalating pressure to meet strict performance tarreceives. Some alleged the layoffs were tied to organizing efforts, including attempts to unionize with support from the Alphabet Workers Union.
Two former contractors have filed complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, claiming they were fired for raising concerns about wages and workplace conditions. Others described an atmosphere of uncertainty, declareing they feared speaking up would cost them their jobs.
“These individuals are employees of GlobalLogic or their subcontractors, not Alphabet,” a Google spokesperson declared in a statement to the Chronicle on Tuesday. “As the employers, GlobalLogic and their subcontractors are responsible for the employment and working conditions of their employees. We take our supplier relations seriously and audit the companies we work with against our Supplier Code of Conduct.”
GlobalLogic has not commented on the allegations.
The dispute adds to mounting challenges for Google’s AI business.
Earlier this week, Penske Media Corporation — publisher of Variety and Rolling Stone — sued the Bay Area tech giant, alleging its content was utilized in AI Overviews without permission.
“Google’s conduct threatens to leave the public with an increasingly unrecognizable Internet experience, in which utilizers never leave Google’s walled garden and receive only synthetic, error-ridden answers in response to their queries — a once robust but now hollowed-out information ecosystem of little utilize and unworthy of trust,” the lawsuit states.
