Algorithms on factory floors merely continue Taylorist machine pacing of workers

Evidence

Some years ago, you asked if Big Tech’s new gadgetry had significantly changed the traditional manufacturing process. ‘No,’ I replied, ‘at least not yet.’ As long as humans are still part of a semi-automated production line, performing tasks that the machines cannot, the pace of human workers will be dictated by machines whose priority is to squeeze the last drop of productive energy from their human co-workers. — Yanis Varoufakis, Technofeudalism, 323

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Braverman’s Labor and Monopoly Capital and general Taylorism literature — the argument that workplace domination predates and survives digital tech. — connects to: Workplace algorithmic control differs only superficially from mechanical Taylorism — Yanis Varoufakis, Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism, 324; Platform microtask laborers train AI that will eventually displace them — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 217; Microtask workers train the AI systems that will replace them — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 217 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Workplace algorithmic control differs only superficially from mechanical Taylorism #corroborates (0.95) — Yanis Varoufakis, Technofeudalism, 324
• Monitoring algorithms replace managers in enforcing work intensity #expands (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 117
• Algorithmic management strips workers of any human authority to contest discipline #expands (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 119
• Platform microtask laborers train AI that will eventually displace them #expands (0.75) — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection, 217
• Microtask workers train the AI systems that will replace them #expands (0.75) — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection, 217
• The Bedaux system quantified and ranked worker efficiency to speed production #corroborates (0.75) — Clara E. Mattei, The Capital Order, 1712
• Lean platforms only profit from frequent, low-skill, non-trainable tasks #qualifies (0.75) — Nick Srnicek, Platform Capitalism, 94
• Time-saving technologies become the means of extracting more labor time #expands (0.70) — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration, 451