---
title: "Gig workers are endlessly exploited. AI could make more of us share their fate"
slug: "klarna-zeigt-die-naechste-ki-welle-weniger-jobs-mehr-gig-arbeit"
date: 2026-06-18
category: tech-pub
tags: [agents]
language: en
sources_count: 1
featured: false
publisher: AInauten News
url: https://news.ainauten.com/en/story/klarna-zeigt-die-naechste-ki-welle-weniger-jobs-mehr-gig-arbeit
---

# Gig workers are endlessly exploited. AI could make more of us share their fate

**Published**: 2026-06-18 | **Category**: tech-pub | **Sources**: 1

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## TL;DR

- Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.

---

## Summary

- Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.
- The Guardian frames this as the likely pattern: AI handles routine cases, while harder work is routed to on-demand contractors. Companies cut costs and workers absorb more risk.
- Upwork says about 60 million Americans already do freelance or gig work; Statista expects 86 million by 2027. The fastest growth is in knowledge work, not just driving or delivery.
- Examples now include creatives training AI systems, expert contractors hired by Mercor, and nursing apps that turn shifts into bids. Unions and regulation are the main counterweight.

---

## Why it matters

Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.

---

## Key Points

- Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.
- The Guardian frames this as the likely pattern: AI handles routine cases, while harder work is routed to on-demand contractors. Companies cut costs and workers absorb more risk.
- Upwork says about 60 million Americans already do freelance or gig work; Statista expects 86 million by 2027. The fastest growth is in knowledge work, not just driving or delivery.
- Examples now include creatives training AI systems, expert contractors hired by Mercor, and nursing apps that turn shifts into bids. Unions and regulation are the main counterweight.

---

## Nauti's Take

For AI builders, this is the uncomfortable product question: automation does not just eat tickets, it atomizes employment contracts. If you build human-in-the-loop systems, decide whether people keep real responsibility and stability or become the underpaid exception handler for your models.

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## FAQ

**Q:** What is Gig workers are endlessly exploited. AI could make more of us share their fate about?

**A:** - Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.

**Q:** Why does it matter?

**A:** Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.

**Q:** What are the key takeaways?

**A:** Klarna replaced many service roles with an AI chatbot in 2024, then brought people back after quality complaints, but more as Uber-like gig agents than classic full-time staff.. The Guardian frames this as the likely pattern: AI handles routine cases, while harder work is routed to on-demand contractors. Companies cut costs and workers absorb more risk.. Upwork says about 60 million Americans already do freelance or gig work; Statista expects 86 million by 2027. The fastest growth is in knowledge work, not just driving or delivery.

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## Related Topics

- [agents](https://news.ainauten.com/en/tag/agents)

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## Sources

- [Gig workers are endlessly exploited. AI could make more of us share their fate](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/18/ai-threatens-gig-work-rise) - The Guardian AI

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## About This Article

This article is a synthesis of 1 sources, curated and summarized by AInauten News. We aggregate AI news from trusted sources and provide bilingual (German/English) coverage.

**Publisher**: [AInauten](https://www.ainauten.com) | **Site**: [news.ainauten.com](https://news.ainauten.com)

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*Last Updated: 2026-06-19*