What Does Ethical Sourcing Have to do with Training and Fine-tuning AI and LLM Apps?
As we've recently said, 2024 marks the year of enterprise AI adoption.
Enterprises are developing custom AI and LLM-based applications to meet their domain-specific needs, and to serve their customers and employees. To make these applications perform well and spur adoption, enterprises require a continuous supply of high-quality data for training and regular fine-tuning. However, because generating this data on their own is a major challenge, enterprises are turning to AI Data providers.
The question then arises: How will the AI Data providers produce these datasets?
The answer: Human effort.
While there is growing chatter about the role of synthetic data, for now, and likely for the foreseeable future, only humans possess the capability to create, curate, and validate the specialized, high-quality datasets that enterprises need to train and refine their AI and LLM applications. This means that AI Data suppliers must identify, vet, train, and ‘operationalize’ the human talent pool, or a ‘managed crowd’, that can produce these datasets.
Skilled, qualified domain experts around the world will find themselves with a wealth of options when choosing an AI Data vendor to work with. Their decision, we believe, will hinge on vendors’ commitment to ethical or sustainable sourcing - and their track records around it.
So, what exactly is ethical or sustainable sourcing? What should these domain experts know, before they make the leap?
At e2f, for nearly twenty years, we’ve sourced and managed globally distributed human talent pools. In doing so, we’ve had the opportunity to think deeply about how best to incorporate a human approach to what we do and what we deliver to clients. In fact, our point of view informs our company’s C.A.R.E. (curiosity, agility, responsibility, empathy) values.
With that in mind, here's our perspective:
01
Fair Compensation and Working Conditions
At the heart of ethical talent sourcing lies the commitment to fair compensation and favorable working conditions. This means not only offering competitive wages that reflect the expertise and effort of specialized domain experts and professionals, but also ensuring that their work environment—be it physical or virtual—is conducive to productivity and well-being.
By respecting work-life balance, honoring contractual obligations, and fostering a culture of respect and dignity, companies can set a standard for industry practices that honor the human element behind every project.
02
Building Careers: Retention through Satisfaction and Advancement
The transient nature of project-based work can often lead to high turnover rates in the AI Data industry. To counter this, forward-thinking companies are focusing on retention strategies that offer employees not just jobs, but satisfying careers. This includes:
Clear paths for career advancement
Access to ongoing professional development opportunities
A work culture that values and rewards innovation and excellence.
By investing in the growth and satisfaction of their teams, companies not only build a loyal workforce, but also enhance the quality and consistency of their services.
03
Managing Client Expectations and Setting Realistic Expectations
In a global marketplace where speed and adaptability can set you apart, prizing agility and responsiveness is key. This doesn’t mean sacrificing quality for speed, but rather building a team that’s equipped to meet tight deadlines and complex requirements without burning out.
Ethical sourcing, in this context, means balancing client needs with realistic expectations, ensuring that professionals are not overburdened, and that projects are allocated in a way that leverages the strengths of each team member.
04
A Code of Conduct to Live By
Ethical practices and a professional code of conduct are non-negotiables in building trust in any industry, and the AI Data space is no exception. This encompasses everything from ensuring the accuracy and confidentiality of datasets that are created to fostering an inclusive and discrimination-free workplace. By adhering to a clear set of ethical guidelines, companies not only safeguard their reputation but also contribute to a healthier industry ecosystem where fairness and integrity prevail.
05
Engaging and Supporting the Community
Lastly, the true mark of an ethically-minded business is its relationship with the wider community. This can take many forms, from participating in initiatives that support schools, to the preservation of local culture, to providing pro bono services for non-profits. Engaging with the community not only enriches the company culture but also reinforces the vital role that translation and localization play in bridging cultures and bringing people together.
In conclusion, the journey toward ethically sourcing talent in the translation and localization industry is ongoing and multifaceted. By prioritizing fair compensation, career satisfaction, agility, ethical practices, and community engagement, businesses can lead the way in creating a more sustainable, responsible, and inclusive industry. The benefits of such an approach extend beyond the immediate circle of employees and clients to the global community that we all serve.
