More than 200 contractors who helped test and refine Google’s AI were laid off without warning, workers say. They supported Gemini and AI Overviews. Sources link the cuts to a long fight over pay and working conditions.
According to Wired, layoffs hit in at least two rounds last month. Most raters were employed by GlobalLogic, a Hitachi company, which hires for Google’s AI rating work.
Workers describe low pay, insecurity, and push to return
Raters evaluated and rewrote chatbot answers to sound more human and grounded in sources. Some joined a “super rater” program that required a master’s or PhD. They included writers and teachers.
Andrew Lauzon says he was cut on August 15 with “ramp-down on the project” as the reason. He joined GlobalLogic in March 2024 and worked on prompts and ratings. He says frequent cuts show how precarious the job feels.
Internal documents seen by Wired suggest GlobalLogic used human raters to train a system that could rate responses automatically. Workers fear they will be replaced by AI.
GlobalLogic made office returns mandatory in Austin in July, a notice shows. Some workers say they cannot commute due to cost, disability, or caregiving.
Organizing efforts meet resistance, workers allege
Eight workers told Wired they face low pay, little security, and pressure. In spring 2024, some began to organize with the Alphabet Workers Union. Their chapter had 18 members by December 2024, then grew after a pay survey in January.
Pay gaps and stricter metrics fuel unrest
Super raters hired by GlobalLogic earned $28 to $32 an hour. Super raters hired through third-party contractors earned $18 to $22 for similar work, says Ricardo Levario. GlobalLogic also used “generalist raters,” who lacked advanced degrees.
Alex, a generalist rater hired in 2023, says task timers dropped to five minutes. She focuses on the timer, not quality, and fears losing her job if she misses targets. She says roughly 80 percent of her project peers remain on contract without benefits.
Workers say company social channels helped them connect. In February, many received an email banning social spaces during work hours. Levario says he was later fired for “violating the social spaces policy” after he raised concerns and filed a whistleblower complaint.
Two workers filed National Labor Relations Board complaints saying they were unfairly fired. Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said the workers are employees of GlobalLogic or subcontractors, not Alphabet. Mencini said Google audits suppliers against its Supplier Code of Conduct. GlobalLogic declined to comment.
Labor researchers told Wired similar disputes are common in outsourced data work. Workers in Kenya formed the Data Labelers Association this year. Content moderators formed a global union alliance in April. Remaining GlobalLogic workers say they fear speaking up.
