Labor

A robot assists a man as he folds a shirt, surrounded by other robots and people in a modern workspace.

Innovation 7 January 2026

In Chinese data factories, workers teach humanoid robots boring tasks

Local governments are building training centers to address a shortage of robotic data, as China makes embodied intelligence a national priority.

By Viola Zhou and Kinling Lo

A small figure stands in front of a giant blue briefcase on a red textured surface, with a blue sky in the background.

Tech Giants 22 December 2025

The LinkedIn job scam is global. The hook is local

Scammers masterfully tailor tactics to specific cultural expectations and economic pressures.

By Damilare Dosunmu

A graduate in cap and gown walks forward holding a diploma, with disappearing effect behind. Green and yellow gradient background.

Innovation 9 December 2025

“Everyone is so panicked”: Entry-level tech workers describe the AI-fueled jobpocalypse

Engineering graduates face shrinking opportunities and rising pressure to upskill beyond their curriculum.

By Yashraj Sharma

Silhouette of a person in front of overlapping keyboards and abstract colorful shapes on a textured background.

China Outside China 4 December 2025

The hidden Kenyan workers training China’s AI models

An unemployment crisis has created fertile ground for companies to step in with opaque systems built on WhatsApp groups, middlemen, and bargain-basement wages.

By Damilare Dosunmu and Tessie Waithira

Night scene of a secure facility with armed guards patrolling near a barbed-wire fence and bright floodlights.

Labor 5 November 2025

Microsoft, Google say their data centers create thousands of jobs. Their permit filings say otherwise

Chile and tech giants promise economy-wide impact but permits show fewer onsite jobs after construction.

By Laura Rodríguez Salamanca

A worker wearing a face mask and a yellow and gray uniform pushes a cart with large cardboard boxes through a dimly lit street decorated with red lanterns, casting long shadows on the cobblestone pavement.

Innovation 3 November 2025

“I Deliver Parcels in Beijing”: Chinese literary sensation reaches U.S.

Hu Anyan, a former courier who wrote a best-selling book about the grueling job of delivering packages, discusses life, technology, and the future of work.

Four stylized male characters seated on chairs, each wearing futuristic outfits in white and black tones with varying accents. The first character has orange hair and a black hoodie, the second has light blond hair with a stylish cut, the third has dark hair with a blue accent, and the last has red hair. They are situated in a modern, minimalist setting with a gray background and a reflective floor.

Labor 27 October 2025

The metaverse is rewriting the rules of who can be a K-pop star

In an industry studded with megastars like BTS and Blackpink, virtual idols are building powerful new fandoms even while their true identities remain obscured.

By Michelle Kim

A man and a woman are standing in a field filled with young green plants. The man, wearing a light-colored shirt, is looking at a smartphone, while the woman, dressed in a bright orange shirt and patterned skirt, is observing him. They are surrounded by a mix of green foliage and dry plant matter under a clear blue sky.

Labor 23 October 2025

Malawi’s new farmhand: AI that speaks the local language

Ulangizi AI combines ChatGPT’s power with traditional know-how and government data to help crops — and families — flourish.

By Stephanie Wangari

An illustration of a robotic helmet with a reflective visor showing silhouettes of people in a dimly lit room, surrounded by a blue dotted background.

Labor 20 October 2025

Japanese convenience stores are hiring robots run by workers in the Philippines

Filipino tele-operators remotely control Japan’s convenience store robots and train AI, benefiting from an uptick in automation-related jobs.

By Michael Beltran

A group of people gathers on a riverbank under a partly cloudy sky, with one man transporting bundles of grass on a cart, while others are engaged in various activities. The scene includes men, women, and children, with some wearing traditional clothing and sitting on the sandy ground, surrounded by greenery and the flowing river.

Labor 14 October 2025

AI flood forecasting allows aid to reach farmers before disaster strikes

Using Google’s Flood Hub, a nonprofit pilot sends early warning and unconditional cash to workers.

By Jesmin Papri and Gayathri Vaidyanathan

An illustration combining elements from the flags of China and the United States, featuring a red background with a yellow star on the left and a blue background with white stars and red stripes on the right.

Ideas 13 October 2025

The AI dilemma: To compete with China, the U.S. needs Chinese talent

Immigration restrictions can accelerate the flight of top talent, threatening the strategy that it is better to have the brightest minds working for U.S. companies.

A collage featuring a bearded man in a purple robe, elements of retro graphic design with bold colors and patterns, a shiny silver space suit with bunny ears, a vintage television, and a detailed statue with ornate designs, creating a surreal and eclectic visual composition.

Labor 10 October 2025

Indonesia’s film industry embraces AI to make Hollywood-style movies for cheap

Generative AI video and text tools are transforming some of the labor-intensive parts of filmmaking, and are largely welcomed in Indonesia’s homegrown industry.

By Linda Yulisman