What is a 'microworker'?

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak with me, Feifei…

Neil: …and me, Neil.

Feifei: Er… Neil, can you stop playing

around on that computer and concentrate?

In this programme, we have a new word

connected to the worlds of technology

and work. It's used to describe a kind of

worker who provides an essential

service for the smooth-running of all

things web-based. A microworker.

Neil: A microworker? Isn’t that someone

who makes microwave ovens?

Feifei: No, Neil, though it does have the

same prefix – ‘micro’.

Neil: Ah yes – and the word 'micro' used

as a prefix, indicates that something is small.

Feifei: But we're not talking about small

workers, we're talking about small digital

tasks that computers can't do on their

own. Neil, stop typing!

Neil: Sorry… These might be things like

drawing around a digital image of a face

to help train artificial intelligence systems

to recognise people.

Feifei: That's right – microworkers

perform simple, repetitive, digital tasks

that help improve algorithms.

Neil: Let's hear some examples.

Since the recession, lots of people who

lost their jobs have earned cash as

microworkers.

Some of the biggest tech giants have use

microworkers to help develop their systems.

Some complain it's badly paid, but others

like the flexibility of microwork.

Feifei: You're listening to The English We

Speak from BBC Learning English. In this

programme, we're looking at the word

'microworker'. It describes people who

earn money from performing simple,

repetitive digital tasks that help develop

computer systems.

Neil: As we've heard, microwork isn't a

full-time job. It's something people can do

as much or little as they want, when they want.

Feifei: On the other side, it's not very well

paid or secure.

Neil: Right, are we done?

Feifei: Yes. What are you doing that's so

important?

Neil: Oh you know, just earning a little bit

of extra cash as a microworker.

Both: Bye!