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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Joanna Partridge

Food delivery riders call on platforms to open up AI ‘black box’ they say has cut pay

Four food delivery riders stand with their bikes and insulated bags on stone steps
Delivery riders (from left) Graeme Frances, Bijyan, Xabier Villares and Michael Angus in central Edinburgh. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

Gig economy workers are urging delivery platforms to open up the “black box” of computer-driven algorithms that determine the jobs they are offered and how much they are paid, blaming increased use of AI for lowering wages.

A group of food delivery riders in Edinburgh say their rates of pay have fallen and their working conditions have deteriorated at the same time as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat, the three dominant gig economy platforms in the UK and Ireland, have increased their use of automation.

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