---
title: "The data-work crisis playbook"
description: "How Scale AI and similar firms built a cheap, disposable global labour pool"
canonical: https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/the-data-work-crisis-playbook/
updated: 2026-11-03
---

# The data-work crisis playbook

> How Scale AI and similar firms built a cheap, disposable global labour pool

Karen Hao's framework, from Empire of AI, pp. 150 to 234.

Framework 2 of 7 from [Empire of AI](https://tomsharman.com/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/index.md) by Karen Hao. Category: AI.

## The steps

1. **Scout.** Find places with high education, good internet and economic collapse, so people will work for very little
2. **Attract.** Offer high earnings at launch through referral codes, marketing videos and special programmes
3. **Throttle.** Cut payouts once the platform dominates the market and competitors have been undercut
4. **Expel.** Ban workers who complain or organise, and move to the next economy in crisis

## Where it comes from

From chapter: Part II, pp. 150–234

## The animation

24 seconds, 4:5, no sound.

- MP4: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/the-data-work-crisis-playbook.mp4
- MP4, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/the-data-work-crisis-playbook-dark.mp4
- Still: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/the-data-work-crisis-playbook.png
- Still, dark: https://tomsharman-downloads-006143767029.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.com/downloads/bookshelf/empire-of-ai/the-data-work-crisis-playbook-dark.png