Artificial intelligence scale is investigated by the US Department of Labor
The US Department of Labor (DOL) learned about the data startup of the data mark in order to comply with the Law of Adble Labor Standards, according to Techcrunch.
This is a federal law that regulates unpaid wages, abuse employees as contractors, and illegal revenge against workers.
The investigation has been active since August 2024, at least, a document seen by Techcrunch. It continues, according to a person directly familiar with the matter.
The mere existence of an investigation does not mean that the scale of artificial intelligence has committed any error, of course, and it can find the investigation in favor of the company or its rejection.
SCALE AI is located in San Francisco and Its value was last year at $ 13.8 billion. It depends on an army of workers who classify it as contractors to do a basic work of artificial intelligence, such as describing images of large technology and other institutions.
A spokesman for Scale Ai Joe Osborn told Techcrunch that the investigation began during the previous presidential administration and that the scale of artificial intelligence felt that building his work, testing and evaluating artificial intelligence was misunderstood by the organizers at the time.
Osborne said that Scale AI worked widely with DOL to explain its business model and that the talks were fruitful. In general, Osborne said that Scale AI brings “flexible job opportunities in artificial intelligence” more than any other company and that reactions from its shareholders are “very positive”.
“Hundreds of thousands of people use our platform to display their skills and earn additional money,” Osborne said.
Scale AI is actually a popular work platform. But she recently faced legal challenges from some former colleagues because of her work practices. A lawsuit was filed Against start -up – one in December 2024 and the other in January 2025 – former workers claim to have received low salaries and their non -contractors as contractors instead of employees, and to deny them access to protection such as additional wage and pathological days.
Scale Ai has been strongly opposed to lawsuits, saying that they are fully compatible with the law and work to ensure that their salary rates or bypassing local wage standards.
International labor practices to measure artificial intelligence were the subject of investigation before Washington Post in 2023. The workers abroad are described in the post -work demand for low wages as contractors. At that time, the company said that wage rates were constantly improving.
US Department of Labor Website He says he is able to resolve most cases administratively, but the employers who violate the law may be subjected to fines and possible imprisonment. DOL also has the authority to forced employers to reclassify their workers as employees.
For example, in February 2024, QWICK started the QWICK Run I mentioned.
Scale AI seems to be among the Silicon Valley companies that seek to see and see the new presidential management. Executive Director and Founder Alexander Wang, for example, civilized region Donald Trump’s inauguration in January Like many executives, other technology.
More saying, Amnesty International scale Former administrative director, Michael Krats ,osHe is the candidate of President Trump as a new director of the White House Science and Technology Office. Karassseus previously worked as a chief technology official in the United States during the first Trump administration.
In this position, Kratsios will recommend Trump on science and technology issues. This position has no control over the Ministry of Labor. Caravsus was part of the Senate hearing On February 25, it has not been confirmed yet. Kratsosius did not respond to a request for comment.
US Labor Ministry spokesman Michael Petersen told Techcrunch that he could not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation, according to the long -term policy.
