Artificial intelligence may appear automated, but it depends on a large and often unseen workforce. People label data, review content, transcribe material and check information so that AI systems and other digital services can function.

In Lebanon and Jordan, this work can offer new sources of income, particularly at a time when conventional employment opportunities are limited. Yet relatively little is known about who can access it, how workers are recruited and paid, or how decisions made by platforms and intermediaries affect their working conditions.

The gaps are not only regulatory. Access to reliable internet, suitable devices, identification documents and safe working environments can determine who is able to enter and remain in digital work. Women, young people, refugees and migrant workers may face additional constraints. At the same time, workers often have limited information about how tasks are allocated, how pay is calculated or where they can turn when disputes arise.

Triangle is undertaking a 14-month comparative study of AI data enrichment and related forms of online digital work in Lebanon and Jordan.

The research will look beyond the technology itself to examine the people and labour systems that make it possible. In particular, it will explore:

By bringing workers’ experiences into discussions about the future of AI, the project aims to support policy options that reflect the realities of digital labour in both countries. The research will also consider how existing institutions and social protection systems could respond to forms of work that do not fit neatly within conventional employment relationships.

The study combines comparative research with direct engagement in Lebanon and Jordan. It will begin by mapping the platforms, intermediaries and organisations connected to AI data enrichment and related digital work in each country.

Fieldwork will include focus group discussions and interviews with workers, platform and intermediary representatives, public institutions and organisations supporting digital livelihoods. Particular attention will be given to the experiences of women, young people, refugees and migrant workers.

Findings from the two countries will then be analysed comparatively to identify both common challenges and important differences. Workers, policymakers, civil society organisations, social partners and relevant private-sector actors will be invited to review the emerging findings and assess possible policy responses.

The resulting research will provide evidence on working conditions and access to digital labour, while identifying practical options for improving protection, representation and accountability. Outputs will include a comparative Lebanon–Jordan study, an accessible brief reflecting workers’ perspectives and country-specific pathways for policy and institutional action.