Google ends contract with data company involved in training chatbot AI Bard, saying data company 'wasn't aware of it beforehand'

Google has terminated its contract with Appen, an Australian data company that was involved in training its chatbot AI, 'Bard,' based on a large-scale language model. In a filing with the Australian Securities Exchange, Appen said it was 'unaware that Google had decided to terminate the contract.'

Customer update and FY23 preliminary results - Appen Limited (ASX:APX) - Listcorp.

https://www.listcorp.com/asx/apx/appen-limited/news/customer-update-and-fy23-preliminary-results-2984290.html

They scored a raise for Google AI 'raters'. Then they were terminated.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90906492/google-bard-ai-raters-fired

Google cancels contract with an AI data firm that's helped train Bard - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/23/24048429/google-appen-cancel-contract-ai-training-bard

Appen was contracted by Google to evaluate the quality of search results, ads, etc. In recent years, Appen has also been evaluating generative AI tools, including Bard, developed by Google, and has reportedly sent emails to employees pleading for more work.

Additionally, Appen is also working with Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon to train their AI models. Appen's overall revenue for 2023 is expected to be $273 million, with Google alone accounting for $82.8 million. Google, or Alphabet, will account for roughly one-third of Appen's total revenue.

However, Appen employees were not paid high salaries, and some employees were paid as little as $10 an hour (about 1,480 yen), which frequently caused problems for the working environment.

The labor union at Google's parent company, Alphabet, is petitioning Google and Appen to raise employee wages to a minimum of $15 per hour in January 2023. In response, Appen's hourly wage has actually been raised to between $14 and $14.50.

Appen was also sued by U.S. labor regulators in June 2023 for allegedly firing six contract employees who publicly complained about their working conditions.

Google's decision not to renew its contract with Appen is a significant blow to the company. 'The decision to terminate the contract is part of our ongoing efforts to review and align many of our contracts across Alphabet to ensure our vendors' operations are as efficient as possible,' said Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini.

However, Appen stated in the filing that it had no prior knowledge of Google's decision to terminate the agreement, and that the fact that Google did not renew the agreement came as a surprise. 'We will immediately adjust our strategic priorities upon receiving notice of Google's termination and will provide further details in our fiscal year 2023 earnings report on February 27, 2024,' Appen wrote.