Dignity as a commodity? Labour dynamics and partial inclusion among data annotators in artificial intelligence in Colombia

The paper analyses an often-overlooked domain of the global AI workforce, shedding light on the significance of workers engaged in humanitarian labour inclusion initiatives. Focusing on DignifAI, an AI annotation service provider situated on the Colombia–Venezuela border, the research examines its efforts to offer dignified employment opportunities to Venezuelan migrants. Through interviews with international workers, managers, and officials involved in the programme, the study explores the personal experiences and subjectivities shaped by AI training work within this inclusive framework. It investigates how dignity plays a pivotal role in the transformation of labour power into a commodity within prevailing production relations, shifting the discourse on AI labour from mere exploitation to themes of autonomy, control, and consent within industrial capitalism. The research also critically evaluates humanitarian initiatives, highlighting the tension between benevolent discourses of inclusion and the structural challenges faced by vulnerable populations.